LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


Class 


LIFE, 

TIMES,  AND  CORRESPONDENCE 

OF 

JAMES  MANNING, 

AND   THE 

(Shtrirr   f)t 

OP 

BROWN     UNIVERSITY. 

BY 

REUBEN  ALDRIDGE  GUILD. 


•  People  will  not  look  forward  to  posterity,  who  never  look  backward  to  their  ancestors." 

BURKE. 


BOSTON: 


GOULD     AND     LINCOLN 

59     WASHINGTON      STREET. 

NEW    YORK:    SHELDON    AND    COMPANY. 
CINCINNATI  :  GEORGE  S.  BLANQIIARD. 

18G4. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1864,  by 

GOULD    AND    LINCOLN, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


THE     MEMORY 

OF 

MY     M  O  THE  R, 


is  00hntu 

IS 

INSCRIBED. 


218969 


Cist  of  Sfllu 


I.      PORTRAIT   OF  JAJIKS   MANNING,    D.D.,         .          facing  titlepage 

Page 
II.      BROWN   UNIVERSITY,    .........         107 

III.  FIRST   BAPTIST    CHURCH,    PUOV I  DKXCK,    R.  I.,  .  .  .         225 

IV.  PORTRAIT   OF   HON.   NICHOLAS    BROWN 39? 


PREFACE. 


A  CENTURY  has  elapsed  since  BROWN  UNIVERSITY  was  founded, 
and  nearly  three  quarters  of  a  century  have  passed  away  since  the 
death  of  DR.  MANNING  ;  yet  no  extended  history  of  the  one  or  life 
of  the  other  has  been  published.  This  neglect  to  record  the  honors, 
the  struggles,  and  triumphs  of  tjie  founder,  so  to  speak,  of  the  ven 
erable  seat  of  learning,  with  the  early  history  of  which  his  own  his 
tory  is  so  thoroughly  identified,  must  be  ascribed,  in  part,  to  the 
almost  habitual  indifference  which  Baptists  have  thus  far  manifested 
to  the  characters  and  the  fame  of  their  fathers  and  departed  worthies. 

"  It  is  mortifying,"  says  a  writer  in  one  of  the  earlier  numbers 
of  the  Christian  Review,  "  that  we  have  allowed  men  like  Clarke 
and  Callender,  Backus  and  Manning,  —  each  of  them  an  honored 
and  true-hearted  advocate  of  the  faith  which  we  profess,  at  a  time 
when  this  faith  was  despised  and  derided  over  the  greater  part  of 
New  England,  —  to  pass  away  so  nearly  from  the  memory  of  men. 
They  were  all  scholars,  who  compared  well  with  the  foremost  of 
their  time.  Some  of  them,  also,  have  linked  their  names  with  the 
history  of  the  country,  by  the  services  they  rendered  in  the  days 

of  her  early  settlements,  and  her  subsequent  struggles  for  national 
1* 


VI  P  R  E  F  ACE. 

independence.  But  no  one  of  them  has  found  among  their  own 
brethren  a  biographer  to  set  forth  their  labors  and  sacrifices,  and  to 
delineate  their  characters  in  connection  with  the  peculiar  faith  which 
they  professed.  Their  lives,  in  some  instances,  at  least,  were  filled 
with  important  events,  which  illustrated  the  civil  and  religious  char 
acter  of  the  age  to  which  they  belong.  They  were  made  beautiful, 
too,  by  their  simple  manners,  their  all-enduring  faith,  their  deep 
devotion  to  truth.  It  is  sad  to  think  that  their  memory  has  so  nearly 
perished,  and  it  is  humiliating  to  think  that  this  would  have  been 
permitted  in  no  other  denomination  than  our  own." 

In  1815,  twenty-four  years  after  Dr.  Manning's  death,  a  brief 
sketch  of  his  character  and  life,  by  the  late  John  Howland,  Esq., 
was  published  in  the  Rhode  Island  Literary  Repository.  It  com 
prises  sixteen  pages,  and  consists  chiefly  of  personal  recollections. 
Mr.  Howland,  although  his  calling  was  humble,  possessed  original 
and  vigorous  powers  of  mind,  which  he  had  cultivated  by  extensive 
reading,  and  a  close  observation  of  men  and  manners.  He  was  a 
warm  admirer  of  President  Manning,  who,  with  the  leading  men  of 
the  town,  used  to  frequent  his  shop.  Although  differing  from  him 
in  his  religious  sentiments,  he  has  furnished  a  sketch  of  Manning 
which  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hague,  in  his  "  Historical  Discourse,"  pronoun 
ces  "  an  elegant  tribute  to  his  memory." 

Nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  later,  a  memoir  of  President  Man 
ning,  from  the  pen  of  William  Giles  Goddard,  LL.D.,  at  that  time 
the  accomplished  Professor  of  Belles-letters  in  Brown  University, 
was  published  in  the  American  Quarterly  Register.  This  memoir 


PREFACE.  Vlf 

is  necessarily  brief,  and  although  an  admirable  specimen  of  the 
author's  skill  in  literary  writing,  furnishes  but  little  additional  in 
formation  respecting  Manning,  his  materials  having  been  limited 
mainly  to  the  College  records,  and  the  traditions  that  had  come  down 
to  his  time.  As  an  illustration  of  this  dearth  of  material,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Elton,  a  few  years  later,  in  his  "  Literary  Remains  of  Jonathan 
Maxcy,"  D.D.,  thus  remarks :  "  President  Manning  embodied  in  an 
enduring  form  few  of  the  productions  of  his  noble  mind.  Of  his 
writings,  after  diligent  inquiry  for  several  years,  we  have  been  able 
to  obtain  only  two  of  his  familiar  letters,  and  an  address  delivered 
to  the  graduating  class  in  1789." 

The  present  work  owes  its  origin  to  a  train  of  circumstances,  by 
which  the  author  came  into  the  possession  of  new  and  original 
sources  of  information  in  regard  to  Manning  and  his  associates.  In 
the  year  1848,  soon  after  he  entered  upon  his  duties  as  librarian  of 
Brown  University,  a  handsome  morocco  portfolio,  lettered  on  the  back 
"  MANNING  PAPERS,"  was  placed  in  his  hands,  as  the  custodian  of 
the  Library.  These  papers,  containing  thirteen  packages  carefully 
arranged  by  Manning  himself,  were  found  on  examination  to  be  his 
correspondence  with  friends  in  England,  he  having  preserved  copies 
of  his  own  letters  to  them.  They  came  from  the  late  Mrs.  Ludlow, 
wife  of  the  Rev.  Peter  Ludlow,  and  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Stephen 
Gano.  Mr.  Gano,  upon  the  death  of  Mrs.  Manning,  who  was  his 
aunt,  took  possession  of  Mr.  Manning's  papers,  as  administrator  of 
the  estate.  Upon  his  own  death,  in  1828,  the  portfolio  containing 
Manning's  foreign  correspondence,  as  above  described,  fell  into  the 


VIII  PREFACE. 

hands  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Ludlow,  who  finally  presented  it  to  the 
Library.  The  greater  portion,  however,  of  Dr.  Manning's  papers, 
being  loosely  kept  in  barrels,  were,  through  a  sad  mistake  which 
good  housewives  sometimes  make,  unfortunately  destroyed.  These 
papers  comprised  without  doubt  private  diaries,  important  narratives, 
records  pertaining  to  the  Church,  the  College,  the  Association,  —  in 
short,  ample  materials  for  his  own  personal  history,  and  the  history  of 
his  times.  An  instance  like  this  illustrates  the  folly  of  making  the 
garrets  and  storehouses  of  private  dwellings  places  of  deposit  for 
valuable  manuscript  papers,  for  the  care  and  preservation  of  which 
historical  societies  are  instituted. 

The  acquisition  of  the  "  MANNING  PAPERS  "  awakened  on  the 
part  of  the  author  a  desire  to  obtain  further  information  in  regard 
tq  the  early  history  of  the  College,  and  the  life  of  its  first  President. 
By  means  of  letters  and  circulars,  and  by  persistent  effort,  a  large 
number  of  manuscript  documents,  printed  pamphlets,  sermons, 
addresses,  catalogues,  theses,  programmes,  minutes  of  the  Warren 
Association,  etc.,  have  been  collected  and  carefully  arranged  for 
preservation  in  the  College  Library.  The  titles  of  most  of  these,  are 
given  in  Bartlctt's  Bibliography  of  Rhode  Island  (see  under  BROWN 
UNIVERSITY,  pp.  45-66).  From  these  varied  materials  the  present 
work  has  been  mainly  compiled. 

In  preparing  a  history  of  this  kind,  a  large  number  of  books 
and  pamphlets  have  of  necessity  been  consulted  and  used,  many  of 
which  are  referred  to,  both  in  the  text  and  in  foot-notes.  The 
"  MANNING  PAPERS,"  the  papers  and  correspondence  of  Hczekiah 


PREFACE.  IX 

Smith,  D.D.,  the  papers  of  the  lion.  David  Ho  well,  and  the  early 
College  records,  together  with  riles  of  the  Providence  Gazette,  con 
stitute,  it  may  be  added,  the  basis  of  the  book. 

The  author  takes  great  pleasure  in  acknowledging  herewith  his 
obligations  to  David  Benedict,  D.D.,  the  veteran  historian,  from 
whom  he  obtained  Manning's  diary  and  the  correspondence  of  Hez- 
ekiah  Smith,  together  with  other  valuable  letters  and  documents,  in 
cluding  a  set  of  the  printed  Minutes  of  the  Warren  Association,  from 
the  year  1771  ;  William  B.  Sprague,  D.D.,  of  Albany,  who  kindly 
furnished  copies  of  Manning's  letters  to  General  Miller,  and  who 
also  presented  to  the  Library  the  original  draft  of  the  College  Char 
ter,  of  which  an  account  is  given  in^the  first  chapter,  and  in  the  Ap 
pendix  ;  Horatio  Gates  Jones,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  from  whom  he 
obtained  copies  of  Manning's  letters  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Ustick,  and 
also  much  information  essential  to  his  work ;  the  Rev.  Silas  Hall,  of 
Raynham,  Mass.,  to  whom  he  is  indebted  for  a  copy  of  Backus's  man 
uscript  minutes  of  the  first  four  meetings  of  the  Warren  Association  ; 
Capt.  G.  L.  Dwight,  for  papers  belonging  to  his  great-grandfather, 
the  Hon.  David  Howell,  including  letters  to  him  from  Manning  ;  the 
Rev.  Thomas  S.  Drowne,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  for  many  rare  docu 
ments  and  pamphlets  pertaining  to  the  early  history  of  the  College ; 
the  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society,  for  the  free  use  of  their  ac 
cumulated  treasures  ;  and,  in  fine,  to  all  the  numerous  friends  who 
have  in  any  manner  aided  him  in  his  work. 

Justice  to  his  feelings  requires  the  author  to  express  his  special 
gratitude   to    Barnas   Sears,  D.D.,   President  of  Brown    Univer- 


X  P  R  E  F  ACE. 

si'.y,  for  valuable  suggestions  and  counsels,  and  for  friendly  en 
couragement,  given  him  from  time  to  time  while  engaged  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  labors.  The  publishers  also,  Messrs.  Gould  and 
Lincoln,  deserve  grateful  mention  for  the  interest  which  they  have 
taken  in  the  publication  of  the  book,  the  good  taste  which  they  have 
displayed  in  its  mechanical  execution,  and  for  the  liberality  and 
promptness  with  which  all  their  arrangements  have  been  made  and 
completed. 

The  undertaking  was  entered  upon  with  great  diffidence.  It  has 
been  continued  from  year  to  year,  under  all  the  disadvantages  of 
accumulated  public  and  professional  duties,  and  amidst  frequent  in 
terruptions.  Historical  accuracy,  and  not  literary  excellence,  is  all, 
therefore,  to  which  the  author  has  been  able  to  aspire.  Sincerely 
wishing  that  he  had  possessed  greater  skill  and  more  ample  leisure  for 
the  performance  of  the  task  to  which  his  position  as  librarian  seems 
naturally  to  have  assigned  him,  the  work,  with  all  its  imperfections, 
is  herewith  submitted  to  the  public,  in  the  hope  that  it  may  be  ac 
ceptable  to  the  general  reader,  and  especially  useful  to  the  College, 
and  to  the  religious  denomination  under  whose  auspices  the  College 
was  founded. 

R.  A.  G. 
BROWN  UNIVERSITY,  SEPTEMBER  1, 1864. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

1738-1764. 

Manning's  Birth  and  Parentage  —  Home  Influence  —  Early  Education  —  Sent 
to  the  Hopewell  Academy  —  Isaac  Eaton  —  Conversion  and  Baptism  —  Ben 
jamin  Miller —  Admitted  into  the  College  of  New  Jersey  at  Princeton  —  His 
Instructors,  Davies,  Finley,  and  Blai/  — Extracts  from  the  College  Laws  — 
Student  Life  —  Letter  from  Rev.  Oliver  Hart  —  Manning's  Classmates  — 
Graduates  with  Salutatory  Honors  —  Marriage  — Ordination  —  Sketch  of  his 
Brother-in-law,  John  Gano—  Isaac  Stelle  — Travels  through  the  Colonies  — 
Receives  a  Call  from  the  Baptist  Church  in  Charleston,  S.  C.,  which  he  de 
clines  —  Plan  for  establishing  a  Baptist  College  for  the  education  more  espe 
cially  of  Young  Men  for  the  Ministry  —  Colleges  in  existence  at  this  time  — 
Formation  of  the  Philadelphia  Association  — Early  efforts  of  the  Association, 
in  behalf  of  Education  —  Hollis  and  the  Hollis  Scholarships  at  Harvard  Uni 
versity  —  Hopewell  Academy  —  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Philadelphia  Associa 
tion  in  1762  —  Rhode  Island  College  projected  —  Morgan  Edwards  —  Enter 
prise  specially  intrusted  to  Manning  — His  first  appearance  in  Rhode  Island 
—  Movements  at  Newport  in  relation  to  the  College,  as  narrated  by  Man 
ning—Ezra  Stiles— Thomas  Eyres  — Daniel  Jenckes  —  Jenckes's  History  of 
the  Charter  — Analysis  of  the  statements  of  Manning  and  Jenckes  —  Extracts 
from  the  early  Minutes  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Warren  Associations  pertain 
ing  to  the  College  — Liberal  spirit  of  the  Charter  —  Extract  from  Backus's 
Church  History  of  New  England  pertaining  to  the  early  History  of  the  Col 
lege 23 


XH  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    II. 

1764-1769. 

First  Meeting  of  the  Corporation,  at  Newport—  Character  of  the  twenty-four 
members  present,  representing  the  four  religious  denominations  recognized 
in  the  Charter  —  Manning  removes  with  his  family  to  Warren  —  Begins  a 
Latin  School,  now  the  "  University  Grammar  School  "—  Employs  a  part  of  his 
time  in  preaching  — Formation  of  the  Warrcu  Baptist  Church  — Appointed 
President  of  the  College-  Extracts  from  a  Letter  of  Rev.  Isaac  Backus  to  Dr. 
ill  of  London  -  Suggests  the  formation  of  the  Warren  Association— Diffi 
culties  to  be  overcome -First  Meeting  of  the  Association,  in  1767  -  Letter 
from  the  Philadelphia  Association  —  Second  and  third  Meetings  —  Sentiments 
and  Plan  of  the  Warren  Association  as  drawn  up  by  Manning -Plan  to  col 
lect  grievances -Character  and  influence  of  the  Association  -  Manning's 
prominence  and  usefulness  as  a  member  of  the  two  Associations  -  Circular 
Letter  by  Manning  -  Letter  to  Hon.  David  Ilowell  -  Ho  well  appointed  Tutor 
of  Ihe  College -Sketch  of  his  Character  -  First  Commencement  of  the  Col- 
-  Account  from  the  Providence  Gazette -Hey.  Morgan  Edwards's  efforts 
in  England  and  Ireland  to  secure  funds  for  the  College -Biographical  Sketches 
of  members  of  the  first  Graduating  Class  ;    Eev.  Dr  William  Rogers,  Hon. 
James  Mitchell  Varnum,  Rev.  Charles  Thompson,  Rev.  William  Williams. 

63 


CHAPTER    in. 

1769-1770. 

Erection  of  a  College  edifice,  and  place  of  location- Warren,  East  Greenwich 

cwport,  and  Providence  contend  for  the  honor -Meeting  of  the  Corpora- 

Uon  at  Newport  in  reference  thereto -Final  contest  between  Newport  and 


CONTENTS.  XIII 

Providence  —  Subscriptions  in  Newport  —  Final  meeting  of  the  Corporation 
on  the  question  of  location  —  Names  of  the  thirty-five  members  present  — 
Decision  in  favor  of  Providence  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith  giving  a 
detailed  account  of  this  meeting  —  Proceedings  of  the  Corporation  with  ref 
erence  to  Manning's  removal  to  Providence— Comparison  between  Provi 
dence  and  Newport  at  this  time  —  Attempt  to  establish  another  College,  at 
Newport—  Home-lot  of  Chad  Brown  selected  for  the  location  of  the  College 

—  Plans  of  Nassau  Hall,  Princeton,  adopted  for  the  building— Corner-stone 
laid  by  John  Brown  —  Manning  sunders  his  connection  with  the  church  at 
Warren  — His  struggles  of  mind  in  regard  to  duty —  Removes  to  Providence  — 
Remarks  of  Prof.  Goddard  respecting  his  position  at  this  time  —  Letter  to  Rev. 
Dr.  Stennett,  of  London  — Stennett's  reply  —  Efforts  of  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith 
to  secure  funds  for  the  College,  in  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  —  Letter  from 
Rev.  Oliver  Hart  in  reference  thereto  —  Account  of  the  first  Commencement 
in  Providence  —  Letter  to  Thomas  Lapham,  of  Smithfield,  illustrating  the 
early  discipline  of  the  College— Biographical  Sketch  of  Rev.  Isaac  Backus  — 
Sketch  of  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Stillman  —  Sketch  of  Rev.  Dr.  Hezekiah  Smith 

—  Extracts  from  Smith's  correspondence  while  in  the  Army —Influence  of  the 
Brown  family  upon  the  College  —  Biographical  Sketches  of  their  ancestors:  I. 
Chad  Brown;  II.  John  Brown;  III.  James  Brown;  IV.  James  Brown— Bi 
ographical  Sketches  of  the  "  Four  Brothers,"  Nicholas,  Joseph,  John,  and 
Moses  Brown  — Transit  of  Venus  —  Destruction  of  the  schooner  Gaspee.  .  107 


CHAPTER    IY. 

1770-1773. 

First  Baptist  Church  of  Providence —Founded  by  Roger  Williams  in  1639  — 
Samuel  Winsor  —  Manning's  connection  with  the  Church  —  Invited  to  preach 
—  Controversy  on  Singing  in  public  worship  and  the  Imposition  of  Hands  — 
Becomes  the  Pastor  in  1771— Revival  under  his  preaching  —  Letter  to  Dr. 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

Stennett,  of  London,  giving  an  account  of  his  views  and  feelings  as  Pastor  of 
the  Church  and  President  of  the  College,  together  with  an  account  of  the  dis 
pute  between  the  Baptists  and  Congregationalists  of  Massachusetts,  New 
Hampshire,  and  Connecticut  -  Circular  Letter  of  the  Warren  Association,  in 
1770,  recommending  the  churches  to  seek  redress  of  their  grievances  at  the 
King's  Court  in  England  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith  in  behalf  of  an  op 
pressed  Baptist  Church  in  Richmond,  N.  H.— Letter  to  Rev.  John  Ryland, 
of  Northampton,  England  — Bitterness  of  the  New  England  Congregational 
ists  in  general  towards  the  College  —  Ryland's  reply  —  List  of  worthy  men  of 
learning  and  character  in  England  deserving  the  honors  of  the  College  —  Let 
ter  from  Morgan  Edwards  illustrating  the  ill-feeling  of  the  Congregationalists 
towards  the  College  —  Extract  from  Prof.  Kuowles's  Memoir  of  Roger  Wil 
liams  respecting  the  expediency  of  unveiling  scenes  of  intolerance  and  perse 
cution—Account  of  the  third  Commencement,  in  1771  — Letter  to  Dr.  Lle 
welyn,  of  London,  giving  the  condition  and  prospects  of  the  College,  and  urg 
ing  its  claims  upon  his  benevolence  —  Letter  to  Rev.  John  Ryland  —  Honors 
of  the  College  —  Spread  of  Baptist  sentiments  in  New  England  — Manning 
suggests  a  Lottery  to  augment  the  funds  of  the  College  —  His  connection  with 
the  Latin  School  — Manning's  Salary  —  Letter  to  Rev.  John  Ryland  — Gift 
to  the  College  of  Dr.  Gill's  Works  and  fifty-two  volumes  of  the  Fathers  —  Ry 
land's  letter  to  Manning  — Character  and  early  history  of  Ryland's  friend, 
Rev.  A u gustusM.  Topi ady— Letter  to  Dr.  Stenuett  —  Letter  from  Rev.  Isaac 
Woodman,  of  Thorp,  England,  suggesting  a  printed  Narrative  of  the  College 
and  declining  its  honors  — Manning's  reply  —  Extract  from  a  letter  from  Ry 
land  respecting  a  History  of  the  College  —  Playful  letter  to  Rev.  Hezekiah 
Smith  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Benjamin  Wallin,  a  wealthy  Baptist  of  London  —  Wal- 
lin's  reply  —  Letter  to  Ryland  upon  academic  honors,  and  detailing  facts  illus 
trative  of  the  ill-will  of  Congregationalists  toward  the  College  —Ryland's  re 
ply—List  of  Calvinistic  Baptist  Ministers  in  England  able  to  read  the  Greek 
Testament  —  Letter  from  Rev.  O.  Hart,  of  Charleston,  S.  C.,  thanking  Man 
ning  for  the  discipline  of  the  rod  to  his  son  —  Letter  to  Ryland  —  Letter  to 
Wallin  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Abraham  Booth,  of  London,  author  of  "Reign  of 
Grace."  177 


CONTENTS.  XV 

CHAPTER    V. 

1774-1779. 

Description  of  the  Baptist  meeting-house  at  the  time  of  Manning's  removal  to 
Providence  — Church  and  Society  prosper  under  his  pastoral  care  — Resolve 
to  build  "a  meeting-house  for  the  public  worship  of  Almighty  God,  and  also 
to  hold  Commencements  in  " — Committees  appointed  —  John  Brown  —  Lot 
tery  to  assist  in  defraying  the  expense  —  liaising  of  the  house  —  Dedication  — 
Description  of  the  building  and  grounds—  Letter  to  Rev.  Benjamin  Wallin  — 
Baptists  imprisoned  for  the  non-payment  of  rates  —  Letter  to  Rev.  John  Ry- 
land  —  Manning's  illness  —  His  Narrative  of  the  College  —  Commencement  in 
1774 —Barnabas  Binney  —  Valedictory  oration  —  Letter  to  Thomas  Ustick  — 
Manning's  efforts  in  behalf  of  civil  an'd  religious  freedom— Congress  of  Delegates 
meet  at  Philadelphia,  Sept.  5,  1774  — Address  to  the  same  from  the  Warren 
Association  — Backus  an  agent  to  said  Congress  — Meeting  of  the  Baptists  in 
Philadelphia  —  Conference  between  them  and  members  of  Congress  —  Manning 
addresses  the  Conference  and  reads  a  Memorial  —  Results  —  Increase  of  Baptist 
sentiments  throughout  the  land  —  Extract  from  letter  giving  Dr.  Stiles's 
statements  in  regard  to  said  Conference  —  Petition  from  the  Senior  Class  — 
Manning's  reply  —  No  Commencement  in  1775  —  Reasons  —  Commencement  in 

1776  _  Newport  taken  by  the  British  forces  —  Providence  under  martial  law  — 
College  studies  suspended  —  College  building  occupied  by  the  American,    and 
afterwards  by  the  French  troops  —  Manning's  duties  at  this  time  —  Letter  to 
John  Ryland,  giving  a  picture  of  the  war  and  an  account  of  the  progress  of 
religion  in  the  land  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Benjamin  Wallin,  giving  an  account  of 
a  remarkable  revival  of  religion  in  the  church  and  College  —  Wallin's  reply  — 
Letter  of  sympathy  and  counsel  to  Miss  A.  Howard,  of  England  — Controver 
sial  letter  on  Infant-Baptism,  to  Rev.  John  Berridge,  of  London  — Conduct  of 
the  Episcopal  clergy  in  reference  to  the  war  —  Meeting  of  the  Corporation  in 

1777  —  Instance  of  Manning's  humane  disposition — Important  civil  function 
confided  to  him  — Anecdote  of  Manning  in  relation  to  the  "  Dark  Day  "  — 


XVI  CONTENTS. 

Letter  to  Rev.  Thomas  Ustick,  urging  him  to  open  a  Latin  school  with  a  view 
to  aiding  the  College —Letter  from  Judge  Howell  resigning  his  Professor 
ship.          .225 


CHAPTER    VI. 


1779. 


Distressed  condition  of  the  people  of  Rhode  Island  in  1779  —  Probable  reasons 
for  a  journey  to  Philadelphia  — Diary  or  Journal  —  Manning  sets  out  from 
Providence  Thursday,  April  29  —  Sunday,  May  2,  preaches  at  Mr.  James  Thur- 
ber's  in  the  forenoon,  and  at  Mr.  Thompson's  in  the  afternoon —  Thursday, 
May  6,  Continental  Fast  — Preaches  in  the  afternoon  for  Rev.  Dr.  Xathan 
Strong,  of  Hartford  —  Saturday,  May  8,  preaches  to  Seventh-day  Baptists  in 
Farmington  —  Description  of  the  country  —  Sunday,  May  9,  preaches  for  Rev. 
Judah  Champion,  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Litchfield  —  Mon 
day,  crosses  chains  of  tremendous  mountains  —  Tuesday,  May  11,  preaches  in 
the  evening  at  Mr.  Waldo's  —  Wednesday,  12,  crosses  Continental  Ferry  — 
Thursday,  13,  reaches  the  family  of  his  brother-in-law,  Rev.  John  Gano  — 
—  Sunday,  16,  preaches  twice  for  Rev.  Mr.  Randall's  people  —  Tuesday,  18, 
assists  his  nephews  in  planting  — Sunday,  23,  preaches  again  for  Mr.  Randall 
at  Warwick  —Monday,  24,  sets  out  for  the  Jerseys  — Reaches  Mrs.  Manning's 
home  in  the  evening  —  May  27,  visits  Elizabethtown,  his  native  place  —  Sunday, 
30.  preaches  at  the  Scotch  Plains  Church  —  Meeting  interrupted  by  the  march 
of  the  American  forces  —  Sunday,  June  6,  preaches  with  Mr.  Stelle,  to  a  large 
audience—  Saturday,  12.  preaches  at  the  Scotch  Plains  Church  —  Sunday,  13, 
preaches  again  ai:d  administers  communion  —  Sunday,  20,  preaches  atLyon's 
Farms  —  Monday,  June  21,  sets  out  for  Philadelphia  —  In  the  evening  preaches 
at  Samuel  Randolph's  —  June  24,  visits  Dr.  Vankirk,  and  preaches  in  the 
evening  —  Accounts  of  grain  and  Indian  corn  —  June  27,  tarries  with  Rev. 
William  Van  Horn  at  Southampton,  and  preaches  —  Fruit  in  this  neighbor- 


CONTENTS. 

hood  cut  off  by  the  frost-  Crops  fine  -Monday,  June  28,  reaches  Pennepek, 
and  tarries  with  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Jones  five  days  -  Sketch  of  Dr.  Jones  - 
July  2,  Manning  arrives  at  Philadelphia  -  Puts  up  at  William  Goforth's- 
Calls  on  Samuel  Davis,  William  Rogers,  Mr.  Watkins,  Mr.  Westcots,  Dr.  Rush, 
>Ir.  Moulders,  Mr.  Hart,  and  Robert  S.  Jones -Financial  embarrassments  of 
the  country- Mr.  Joseph  Hart  of  the  Executive  Council  spends  the  evening 
at  his  lodgings  -July  3,  breakfasts  with  Dr.  Rush  -  Inquires  of  Mr.  Collins, 
a  member  of  Congress,  relative  to  the  money  question  -  Dines  at  Mr.  Red 
wood's  with  Hon.  William  Ellery  -  Sunday,  July  4,  preaches  twice  -  General 
Spencer,  a  member  of  Congress,  spends  the  evening  with  him -Monday,  July 
5,  importuned  by  a  committee  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  to  tarry  with  them 
a  long  time -Sets  out  in  the  afternoon  for  Dr.  Jones's- July  7,  sets  out  for 
Bordentown-July9,  preaches  in  the  evening- July  11,  preaches  at  Cran- 
berry  -  Sick  with  diarrhoea  -  July  13,  preaches  at  the  Baptist  meeting -July 
16,  sets  out  for  Piscataway  -Mrs.  Manning  ill  -  July  17,  preaches  at  Sabba 
tarian  meeting  -  July  18,  preaches  foj  Mr.  Stelle  twice  -  July  19,  returns  to 
the  Farms -Report  concerning  General  Wayne  and  Stony  Point- July  23, 
sets  out  for  Hopewell-  July  25,  preaches  twice  and  administers  the  commun 
ion-July  26,  preaches  in  the  afternoon  -  July  27,  dines  at  John  Hart's, 
Kewtown  -  July  29,  sets  out  again  for  Philadelphia  -  July  30,  visits  in  town 
-Sees  the  prisoners  taken  at  Stony  Point  -  Aug.  1,  preaches  twice-  Letters 
from  friends  -  Aug.  5,  call  from  Rev.  Morgan  Edwards  -  Aug.  7,  visits  Capt. 
Falkner,  in  company  with  Edwards  -  Aug.  8,  preaches  in  town  three  times 
_  Aug.  10,  visits  Col.  Miles,  in  company  with  Edwards  and  Jones  -  Descrip 
tion  of  his  country-seat  -  Weather  -  Crops  -  Aug.  14,  preaches  in  the  even 
ing  -  Aug.  15,  preaches  twice,  and  attends  funeral  of  a  child  -  Aug.  1G,  sets 
out  for  Mr.  Jones's  at  Pennepek  -  Finds  Mr.  Edwards  there  -  Aug.  17,  sets 
out  for  the  Jerseys -Visits  his  family  and   friends  -  Sept.  8,  sets  out  for 
Providence  —  Sept.  11,  reaches  the  home  of  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Gano,  and 
next  day  preaches  twice  at  Warwick  -  Sept.  14,  meets  Lieut.  Hubbel  on  the 
road,  who  had  come  from  Newburgh  with  an  invitation  from  West  Point  - 
Sept.  16,  goes  down  to  West  Point  by  water  in  Lieut.  Hubbel's  boat  -  De 
scription  of  the  fort  and  grounds -Introduced  to  Surgeon  McDugal-  Dines 
at  General   Greene's  quarters  with  his  family  -  Is  introduced  to  General 
2* 


XVIII  CONTENTS. 

Washington,  General  Knox,  Baron  Steuben,  the  French  Ambassador,  and 
others  —  Returns  up  the  river —  Sept.  17,  sets  out  from  the  Continental  Ferry 
—  Journey  through  Connecticut  —  Description  of  the  country  —  Character  of 
the  inhabitants  —  Manner  of  conducting  town  meetings  —  Ravages  of  the 
war  —  Reaches  home,  Sept,  29.  .  .  263 


CHAPTER    VII. 

1780-1783. 

Meeting  of  the  Corporation  in  1780— College  instruction  revived  -  Manning's 
perseverance  —  Second  interruption  —  Meeting  of  the  Corporation  in  1782  — 
Resolution  to  apply  to  Congress  for  damages  done  to  the  College  edifice  during 
the  war  — First  Meeting  of  the  Warren  Association  in  Providence  —  Illustra 
tion  of  the  efforts  made  by  our  fathers  to  educate  and  improve  the  "rising 
generation  "—Letter  to  Hon.  David  Howell  — Letter  to  Kcv.  Benjamin  Wal- 
lin  —  Brief  view  of  the  religious  condition  of  the  country —Public  exercises 
of  Commencement  resumed  — Manning's  purpose  to  proceed  to  England  to 
solicit  funds  for  the  College  — His  memorial  to  the  Corporation  on  this  subject 
—  Second  letter  to  Hon.  David  Howe]],  giving  an  account  of  Commencement 
and  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Corporation  —  Petition  to  the  King  of  France 
for  his  patronage  of  the  College  — Sketch  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Waterhouse  —  Let- 
ter  from  Thomas  Jefferson  in  regard  to  the  aforesaid  petition  to  the  King  — 
Extracts  from  a  Digest  of  the  College  Laws  by  President  Manning  — Remarks 
of  Tristam  Burges  in  regard  to  evening  speaking  on  the  chapel  stage—  Man 
ning's  ideas  of  college  government  and  discipline  —  Letter  to  Henry  Kane,  of 
London  — Letter  to  Rev.  John  Ryland  —  Influence  of  the  College  in  favor  of 
civil  and  religious  liberty —  Letter  to  Manning  from  Rev.  Dr.  Stennett—  An 
ecdote  of  Thomas  Mullett,  Esq..  respecting  George  Washington— Reply  to 
Dr.  Stennett,  giving  a  history  of  the  times  during  the  war;  John  Murray; 
Jemima  Wilkinson;  the  "Elect  Lady  ";  increase  of  religious  toleration  in  New 
England;  calamities  of  the  war;  condition  of  the  College;  its  influence  in  pro- 


CONTENTS.  XIX 

moting  Baptist  sentiments;  character  of  its  library  ;  plan  for  an  Education  So 
ciety,  etc.  —  Origin  of  the  Rhode  Island  Baptist  Education  Society —  Letter  to 
Dr.  Thomas  Llewelyn,  urging  him  to  endow  the  College,  and  thus  give  it  his 
name,  according  to  a  provision  of  the  Charter  —  Extract  from  an  address  of 
the  Warren  Association  pertaining  to  education,  and  especially  to  the  College. 

287 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

1784-1785. 

Letter  to  Manning  from  Rev.  Dr.  Rippon,  of  London  —  Most  of  the  Baptist  min 
isters  in  England  on  the  side  of  America  in  the  war  —  Manning's  reply  to  Rip 
pon— Apostasy  of  Rev.  Elhanan  Winchester  —  Sketch  of  Hon.  Asher  Robbins 

—  Baptists  compelled  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  Pedobaptist  worship  in 
Massachusetts  and  Connecticut—  Resolution  of  the  Warren  Association  in  ref 
erence  thereto  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Thomas  Ustick  on  the  subject— Sketch  of 
Rev.  Elhanan  Winchester—  His  troubles  with  the  Baptist  church  in  Philadel 
phia—Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith— William  Wilkinson  and  the  College  Gram 
mar  School  —  Extract  from  the  Providence  Gazette  respecting  the  transfer  of 
the  school  from  the  College  to  the  brick  schoolhouse  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Ca 
leb  Evans,  of  Bristol,  England  —  Condition  of  the  College  —Efforts  to  add  to 
its  funds  and  to  increase  its  library— Evans's  reply  to  Manning  — Illustration 
of  Manning's  numerous  and  perplexing  cares— Letter  from  Rev.  A.  Booth  — 
Manning's  reply  — Letter  to  Rev.  John  Ryland,  Jr.  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Rip 
pon,  introducing  Dr.  Solomon  Drowne,  of  Providence  —  Sketch  of  Dr.  Drowne 

—  Letter  to  Hon.  David  Howell,  in  Congress  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Thomas  Ustick 

Degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity  conferred  on  Manning  by  the  University  of 

Pennsylvania  —  Second  letter  to  Hon.  David  Howell  —  Letter  to  Thomas  Mack- 
aness,  Esq.,  of  London — Manning's  plan  to  establish  a  library  for  the  Bap 
tist  Association  in  Kentucky  — Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Evans  —  Manning's  philan 
thropic  efforts  to  enlighten  the  illiterate  Baptist  ministers  of  Kentucky  and 


XX  CONTENTS. 

Virginia  — Letter  to  Manning  from  Hon.  Granville  Sharp,  of  London  — Man 
ning's  reply— Ecclesiastical  matters  pertaining  to  the  Episcopal  Church  — 
Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Rippon  —  Biographical  sketch  of  Rev.  Stephen  Gano  — 
Character  of  Hon.  Stephen  Hopkins,  the  first  Chancellor  of  the  College  —  Let 
ter  from  Rev.  Dr.  Evans  announcing  a  donation  of  books  to  the  College  Li 
brary  from  the  Bristol  Education  Society  — Character  of  the  donation  and  of 
the  aforesaid  Society  —  Letter  to  Hon.  David  Howell,  in  behalf  of  the  Corpo 
ration,  urging  him  to  use  his  influence  with  the  members  of  Congress  in  favor 
of  a  petition  for  indemnity  for  injuries  which  the  College  building  sustained 
during  the  war— Death  of  Hon.  Joseph  Brown —Correspondence  between 
Manning  and  John  Gill,  of  London,  respecting  the  publications  of  Rev.  Dr. 
John  Gill— List  of  Dr.  Gill's  published  works  —  Pleasant  bibliographical 
"  morceau  "  respecting  the  first  volume  of  Backus's  Ecclesiastical  History. 

322 


CHAPTER    IX. 

178G-1788. 

Manning  as  a  patriot  statesman  —  Appointed  a  member  of  Congress— Account  of 
this  event,  by  Hon.  Asher  Bobbins-  Rev.  Dr.  Perez  Fobes  appointed  to  take 
charge  of  the  College  in  Manning's  absence  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Rippon,  giv 
ing  his  reasons  for  entering  upon  political  life  —  Interests  of  the  College  par 
amount  to  all  others -Manning's  description  of  a  minister  such  as  he  might 
wish  to  succeed  him  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Baptist  church  -  Letter  from 
Nicholas  Brown  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  respecting  Manning  and  a  proposed  va 
cancy  in  the  pastorate  of  the  church  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Evans  —  Letter  to 
Rev.  Abraham  Booth  -  Rev.  Dr.  William  Gordon,  of  London,  author  of  a  his 
tory  of  the  American  war  -  Letter  to  him  -Congress  passes  an  act  for  the  relief 
of  the  College -Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  giving  an  account  of  his  life  as  a 
member  of  Congress -Letter  to  his  colleague,  Gen.  Nathan  Miller,  giving  an 
account  of  his  own  embarrassed  condition  from  the  want  of  funds,  and  urg 
ing  him  to  take  his  seat  as  a  delegate  -  Second  letter  to  Mr.  Miller  -  Letter  to 


CONTENTS.  XXI 

Maiming  from  Dr.  Gordon  —  Public  exercises  of  Commencement  resumed  — 
Sketch  of  lion.  Nicholas  Brown  — Account  of  the  collection  of  portraits  in 
Rhode  Island  Hall  —  Extract  from  a  letter  illustrating  the  difficulties  against 
which  the  College  at  this  time  had  to  contend  —  Letter  to  llev.  Dr.  Smith  — 
Severe  reflections  on  the  General  Assembly  of  Rhode  Island  —  Trying  period 
in  Manning's  life —  Commencement  of  1787  —  Sketch  of  Hon.  Samuel  Eddy 

—  Biographical  sketch  of  Rev.  Dr.  Jonathan  Maxcy  —  Confederation  —Feder 
alists  and  Anti-Federalists  —  Manning's  influence  in  favor  of  the  "  New  Consti 
tution  " —  Attends  the  Convention  in  Massachusetts  for  the  adoption  of  the 
Constitution  —Anecdote  respecting  him— Letter  to  llev.  Dr.  Smith  alluding 
to  his  attendance  upon  the  debates  of  the  Convention  — Letter  from  llev.  Dr. 
Rippon  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Thomas  Ustick  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  — Bio- 
graphicaisketch  of  Rev.  Dr.  Asa  Messer  —  Commencement  of  1788  —  Sketch 
of  Hon.  James  Burrill— Letter  from  Rev.  Morgan   Edwards —  Letter  from 
Rev.  Dr.  Evans  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  —  Early  schools  of  1'rovideiice 

—  Manning's  efforts  in  behalf  of  popular  education 377 


CHAPTER    X. 

1789-1701. 

Letter  from  Rev.  Dr.  Gordon,  illustrating  his  political  views,  and  his  position 
in  England  as  the  historian  of  the  American  Avar  — Manning  appointed  to 
draft  and  present  to  Congress  a  petition  in  behalf  of  Rhode  Island  — Address 
to  the  Graduating  Class  of  1789  —  Jeremiah  B.  Howell  —  James  Fenner— 
Manning's  customary  charge  to  candidates  for  the  ministry  —  Letter  to  Rev. 
Abraham  Booth  — Booth's  reply  — Letter  from  Rev.  Dr.  Evans— Letter  to 
Rev  Dr.  Smith  —  Religious  interest  in  Providence  —  Tutor  Flint—  Final  adop 
tion  of  the  Federal  Constitution  in  Rhode  Island  —  George  Washington's  visit 
to  Providence  — Reception  at  the  College —Address  of  President  Manning 
in  behalf  of  the  Corporation  —  Washington's  reply —  Commencement  for 
1790 -Moses  Brown  — Degree  of  LL.D.  conferred  on  Washington  —  Anec- 


XXII  CONTENTS. 

dote  respecting  him  —  Letter  to  Ecv.  Dr.  Smith  respecting  Asa  Messer,  Tutor 
Flint,  etc. —  Ordination  of  Mr.  Flint— Letter  from  Rev.  Abraham  Booth  — 
Letter  from  Rev.  Dr.  Eippon  —  Letter  from  Rev.  Dr.  William  Richards,  of 
Lynn,  England  — Announces  his  intention  of  bequeathing  his  library  to 
Rhode  Island  College  — Account  of  Mr.  Richards— Corresponds  with  Presi 
dent  Messer  —  Bequeaths  his  library  to  the  University —  Last  letter  from 
Manning,  addressed  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  —  Manning  preaches  his  farewell  sermon 
to  the  people  of  his  charge  —  Notifies  the  Corporation  of  the  College  to  look 
out  for  a  successor  to  fill  his  place  —  Singular  presentiment  of  his  approaching 
mortality  —  His  death  —  Universal  sorrow  and  regret  —  Proceedings  of  the 
Corporation  —  Funeral  —  Extracts  from  Maxcy's  Funeral  Sermon  —  Letter 
on  the  occasion  of  Manning's  death  from  Rev.  Dr.  Stillman,  addressed  to 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  — Letter  from  Hon.  David  Howell,  in  behalf  of  members  of 
the  Corporation,  announcing  Manning's  death  to  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Jones,  and 
in  an  informal  manner  designating  him  as  his  successor  in  the  Presidency  — 
Letter  from  Rev.  Isaac  Backus  to  Rev.  Dr.  Rippon  —  Extracts  from  Simeon 
Doggett's  Commencement "  Oration  on  the  Death  of  Rev.  President  Manning  " 
—  Extracts  from  the  circular  letters  of  the  Warren  and  Philadelphia  Associa 
tions  —  Manning's  personal  appearance,  habits,  character,  and  influence,  as 
given  by  Hon.  David  Ilowell  —  Original  portrait  of  Manning,  by  Cosmo  Alex 
ander —  Manning's  corpulency  —  Conclusion  —  The  College  founded  by  Bap 
tists  to  secure  for  the  churches  an  educated  ministry  —  The  improvement  and 
elevation  of  the  Baptist  denomination  through  the  College  the  object  and  aim 
of  Manning's  entire  professional  life 420 


APPENDIX,  . 

INDEX,    . 


MANNING  AND  BROWN  UNIVERSITY, 


CHAPTER     I. 

1738-1764. 

Manning's  Birth  and  Parentage  —  Home  Influence  —  Early  Education  —  Sent 
to  the  Hopewell  Academy  —  Isaac  Eaton  —  Conversion  and  Baptism— Ben 
jamin  Miller  —  Admitted  into  the  College  of  New  Jersey  at  Princeton  —His 
Instructors,  Davies,  Finley,  and  Blair  —  Extracts  from  the  College  Laws  — 
Student  Life  —  Letter  from  the  Rev.  Oliver  Hart —  Manning's  Classmates  — 
Graduates  with  Salutatory  Honors —Marriage  — Ordination  — Sketch  of  his 
Brother-in-law,  John  Gano  — Isaac  Stelle  —Travels  through  the  Colonies  — 
Receives  a  Call  from  the  Baptist  Church' in  Charleston,  S.  C.,  which  he  declines 

—  Plan  for  establishing  a  Baptist  College  for  the  Education  more  especially  of 
Young  Men  for  the  Ministry  —  Colleges  in  Existence  at  this  time -Forma 
tion  of  the  Philadelphia  Association  —  Early  Efforts  of  the  Association  in 
behalf  of  Education  —  Hollis  and  the  Hollis  Scholarships  at  Harvard  Univer 
sity —Hopewell  Academy  —Annual  Meeting  of  the  Philadelphia  Association 
in  1762 -Rhode  Island  College   projected  —  Morgan  Edwards  — Enterprise 
specially  intrusted  to  Manning  —  His  first  Appearance  in  Rhode  Island  — 
Movements  at  Newport  in  Relation  to  the  College,  as  narrated  by  Manning 

—  Ezra  Stiles  — Thomas  Eyres— Daniel  Jenckcs  — Jenckes's   History  of  the 
Charter  — Analysis  of  the  Statements  of  Manning  and  Jenckes  —  Extracts 
from  the  early  Minutes  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Warren  Associations  pertain 
ing  to  the  College  -  Liberal  Spirit  of  the  Charter— Extract  from  Backus's 
Church  History  of  New  England  pertaining  to  the  early  History  of  the  Col 
lege. 

"!T  is  a  homnge  due  to  departed  worth,  whenever  it 
rises  to  such  a  height  as  to  render  its  possessor  an  object 
of  general  attention,  to  endeavor  to  rescue  it  from  oblivion; 
that,  when  it  is  removed  from  the  observation  of  men,  it 
may  still  live  in  their  memory,  and  transmit,  through  the 
shades  of  the  sepulchre,  some  reflection,  however  faint,  of 
its  living  lustre."  This  language  of  Robert  Hall,  on  the 


24  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  I. 

death  of  Dr.  Ryland,  is  especially  applicable  to  the  subject 
of  the  present  memoir.  Nearly  three  quarters  of  a  cen 
tury  have  elapsed  since  he  passed  from  earth.  "  His  own 
times,"  says  the  Hon.  William  Hunter,  our  late  Ambassa 
dor  to  Brazil,  "  he  inspired  with  a  deep  sense  of  his  qual 
ities  as  a  scholar,  -an  orator,  a  statesman,  a  theologian,  and 
an  educationist."  A  general  impression  of  his  remarkable 
talent  and  influence  still  remains,  but  what  composed 
them  has  become  a  matter  of  tradition.  Of  all  Dr.  Man 
ning's  intimate  associates,  and  of  his  numerous  pupils,  not 
one  is  now  living  to  aid  by  personal  recollections  any 
endeavor  to  embody,  in  a  suitable  form,  memorials  of  his 
character  and  deeds.  To  perpetuate,  therefore,  his  memory 
through  his  life  and  correspondence,  and  to  exhibit  the  ori 
gin  and  early  progress  of  the  institution  of  learning  whose 
infancy  he  fostered,  and  whose  resources  he  nurtured  and 
developed,  will  be  the  object  of  our  present  work. 

The  Reverend  James  Manning,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Eliz- 
abethtown,  New  Jersey,  on  the  22d  of  October,  1738. 
Concerning  his  remote  ancestors  we  have  no  authentic 
information.  His  father,  Isaac  Manning,  was  one  of  the 
original  thirteen  members  of  the  Scotch  Plains  Baptist 
Church,  which,  as  appears  from  the  records,  was  consti 
tuted  on  the  7th  of  August,  1747.  Being  a  proprietor 
and  cultivator  of  the  soil,  his  children  were  trained  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  thus  James  acquired  that  skill 
in  husbandry  for  which  he  was  ever  distinguished.  His 
mother,  Catharine,  was  also  a  member  of  the  church.  So 
far  as  we  may  judge  from  the  character  and  disposition  of 
her  son,  she  was  a  woman  of  superior  mental  and  physical 
endowments,  —  one  who  exemplified  in  her  daily  life  the 
happy  and  sanctifying  influences  of  the  Christian  religion. 
James  thus  enjoyed  all  those  advantages  which  are  de- 


173&-1764.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  2o 

rived  from  the  watchful  care  of  sensible  and  religious 
parents.  To  their  counsel  and  example  he  was  indebted 
for  those  principles  of  right  conduct,  and  those  cultivated 
moral  sensibilities,  which  saved  his  youth  from  frivolity 
and  vice,  and  to  which,  ere  he  had  attained  to  manhood, 
God  was  pleased  to  add  the  regenerating  influences  of  his 
Holy  Spirit. 

Concerning  his  schoolboy  days  we  can  ascertain  but 
little.  It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  no  memorials  of  his 
early  life  have  been  transmitted  to  his  descendants.  He 
probably  enjoyed  better  advantages  for  education  than 
most  lads  of  that  early  colonial  period.  Elizabethtown 
was  then  the  chief  city  of  New  Jersey,  and  the  centre  of 
comparative  wealth  and  refinement.  Whatever  was  the 
character  of  its  schools,  it  is  certain  that  he  was  thoroughly 
instructed  in  the  elementary  branches  of  learning.  He 
was  an  accomplished  reader,  an  excellent  penman,  and  a 
good  speller.  His  manuscript  writings  furnish  abundant 
evidence  of  his  thorough  proficiency  in  this  latter  useful 
though  too  often  neglected  "  rudiment."  These  may  be 
regarded  as  matters  of  trivial  importance,  yet  they  show 
that  he  did  not  neglect  his  early  opportunities,  whatever 
they  were,  for  mental  culture. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  left  the  parental  roof  to  pre 
pare  for  college,  under  the  instruction  of  the  Rev.  Isaac 
Eaton.1  This  gentleman  had  recently  opened  an  academy 
at  Hopewell,  New  Jersey,  "for  the  education  of  youth  for 
the  ministry."  To  him,  therefore,  says  a  distinguished 

1  Mr.  Eaton  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Eaton  of  Montgomery.  At  an  early  age, 
having  made  a  profession  of  religion,  he  commenced  his  career  as  a  public 
speaker.  In  April,  1748,  he  came  to  Hopewell,  and  on  the  29th  of  November 
following  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church.  In  this  relation  he  con 
tinued  until  July  4,  1772,  when  he  died,  in  the  forty-seventh  year  of  his  age. 
His  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  the  liev.  Dr.  Samuel  Jones,  one  of  his 

3 


26  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  I. 

writer,  belongs  the  high  honor  of  being  the  first  American 
Baptist  to  establish  a  seminary  for  the  literary  and  theo 
logical  training  of  young  men.  For  this  work  his  natural 
endowments  of  mind,  his  varied  attainments  in  knowledge, 
and  his  genuine  piety  happily  qualified  him.  Here,  under 
the  guidance  of  his  faithful  and  beloved  teacher,  Manning 
became  the  subject  of  renewing  grace.  Of  the  exercises 
of  his  mind  at  this  interesting  period  of  his  life,  he  has 
left  no  record.  How  much  the  prayers  of  pious  loved 
ones  at  home  contributed  towards  his  conversion,  and 
how  great  an  influence  was  thus  to  be  exerted  over  the 
destiny  of  multitudes  in  his  after  career,  eternity  alone  will 
reveal.  A  striking  instance  of  the  importance  of  prayer 
in  behalf  of  colleges  and  seminaries  of  learning  is  here 
presented.  Little  did  the  Principal  of  the  Hope  well 
Academy  realize  how  greatly  the  interests  of  learning  and 
religion  were  to  be  affected  by  the  conversion  to  God  of 
this  promising  youth. 

Having  finished  his  preparatory  studies,  Manning  re 
turned  to  Elizabethtown,  where  he  made  a  public  profes 
sion  of  religion.  He  was  baptized  by  the  Rev.  Benjamin 
Miller,1  who  for  many  years  had  been  the  pastor  of  the 
Scotch  Plains  Baptist  Church.  Soon  afterwards,  being 
now  twenty  years  of  age,  he  was  admitted  into  the  College 

earliest  pupils,  who  thus  briefly  portrays  his  character:  "The  natural  endow 
ments  of  his  mind,  the  improvement  of  these  by  the  accomplishments  of  litera 
ture,  his  early  and  genuine  piety,  his  abilities  as  a  divine  and  a  preacher,  his 
extensive  knowledge  of  men  and  books,  his  Catholicism,  etc.,  would  afford  ample 
scope  to  flourish  in  a  funeral  oration ;  but  it  is  needless."  He  received  the  de 
gree  of  Master  of  Arts  from  three  colleges,  —  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  in  1756; 
the  College  of  Philadelphia,  in  1761;  and  Rhode  Island  College,  in  1770. 

"  In  him,  with  grace  and  eminence,  did  shine 
The  man,  the  Christian,  scholar,  and  divine." 

i  Benjamin  Miller,  a  native  of  Scotch  Plains,  was  a  wild  and  reckless  youth, 


173S-17G4.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  27 

of  New  Jersey  as  a  member  of  the  Freshman  Class.  This 
flourishing  institution  had  been  founded  by  the  Presby 
terian  Synod  of  New  York,  in  the  year  1746.  Its  first 
location  was  Elizabethtown,  whence  it  was  removed  to 
Newark,  where  it  remained  eight  years.  In  1756  it  was 
again  removed  to  Princeton,  its  present  location,  where 
Nassau  Hall,  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  buildings  in  the 
colonies,  had  been  erected  for  its  use.  Here  he  enjoyed 
the  instruction  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Davies,  a  man  distinguished 
for  his  wisdom,  piety,  and  eloquence,1  and  whose  varied 
gifts  and  talents  gave  lustre  and  efficiency  to  the  college 
over  wThich  he  presided.  During  his  Senior  year  he  was 
taught  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew  by  President  Finley,  Mr. 
Davies'  successor.  Mr.  Finley  possessed  extensive  learn 
ing,  and  was  especially  remarkable  for  sweetness  of  dispo 
sition  and  politeness  of  behavior.  He  was  also  instructed 
by  tutors  Halsey,  Treat,  Ker,  and  Blair,  all  of  whom  after 
wards  became  eminent  clergymen.  The  last  named,  Dr. 
Samuel  Blair,  was  in  1767  elected  to  the  presidency  of 
the  college,  Dr.  Witherspoon  having  declined  this  honor. 


but  was  converted  in  consequence  of  a  sermon  preached  by  the  celebrated  Gil 
bert  Tennent,  who  encouraged  him  to  enter  the  ministry.  He  was  ordained  on 
the  13th  of  February,  1748,  as  pastor  of  the  church  in  his  native  place.  Here  he 
continued  until  November  14, 1780,  or  about  thirty-four  years,  when  he  died,  in 
the  sixty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  He  was  a  good,  laborious,  and  successful  min 
ister.  "Never,"  said  the  Rev.  John  Gano,  who  preached  his  funeral  sermon, 
"  did  I  esteem  a  ministering  brother  so  much  as  I  did  Mr.  Miller,  nor  feel  so 
sensibly  a  like  bereavement  as  that  which  I  sustained  by  his  death." 

i  Dr.  Davies  spent  the  early  part  of  his  professional  life  in  Virginia.  It  is 
well  known,  says  one,  that  from  the  eleventh  to  the  twenty-second  year  of  his 
age,Patrick  Henry  heard  the  patriotic  sermons  which  Mr.  Davies  was  accus 
tomed  to  deliver,  and  which  were  said  to  have  produced  effects  as  powerful  as 
those  ascribed  to  the  orations  of  Demosthenes ;  that  he  was  an  enthusiastic  ad 
mirer  of  Mr.  Davies  and  his  opinions;  and  that  it  was  Mr.  Davies  who  first 
kindled  the  fire  and  afforded  the  model  of  Henry's  elocution.  (See  History  of 
the  College  of  New  Jersey,  174G-1783,  in  the  "  Princeton  Whig  "  for  Febru 
ary,  1844.) 


28  MANNINGAND  CHAP.  T. 

Blair  did  not  accept  the  appointment,  and  Witherspoon 
was  afterwards  reflected  by  the  Trustees.  Such  were 
Manning's  instructors.  That  the  teachings  of  these  ex 
cellent  men,  and  the  associations  of  his  academic  and  col 
legiate  life,  had  a  most  important  influence  in  developing 
his  character,  and  in  determining  his  subsequent  career,  no 
one  will  deny. 

Among  the  requirements  for  admission  to  the  College  of 
New  Jersey,  was  one  obliging  every  student  to  transcribe 
the  laws  and  customs  thereof,  which  copy,  being  signed  by 
the  President,  was  to  be  in  testimony  of  his  admission,  and 
to  be  kept  by  him  while  in  college  as  a  rule  of  his  good 
behavior.  From  a  manuscript  copy  of  these  laws,  made 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hezekiah  Smith  in  the  summer  of  1758, 
we  make  a  few  extracts,  illustrating  as  they  do  the  char 
acter  and  spirit  of  the  institution  where  Manning,  and 
Howell,  who  was  afterwards  associated  with  him,  received 
their  education.  These  laws,  somewhat  modified,  became, 
it  may  be  added,  a  basis  for  the  government  and  discipline 
of  Rhode  Island  College  :  — 

1.  No  students  may  expect  to  be  admitted  into  the  college  but  such  as 
have  been  examined  by  the  President  and  tutors,  and  shall  be  found  able 
to  render  Virgil  and  Tully's  Orations  into  English,  to  turn  English  into 
true  and  grammatical  Latin,  and  to  be  so  well  acquainted  with  Greek  as 
to  render  any  part  of  the  four  Evangelists  in  that  language  into  Latin  or 
English,  and  give  the  grammatical  construction  of  the  words. 

2.  Those  who  have  prosecuted  their  studies  for  the  space  of  three  years 
after  obtaining  their  first  degree,  if  they  have  not  been  scandalous  in  their 
lives  and  conversation,  shall  be  admitted  to  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 

3.  The  students,  on  every  Lord's  Day,  shall  attend  divine  service  in 
some  place  of  public  worship  ;  which,  if  they  without  sufficient  excuse 
omit,  they  shall  be  punished  in  a  fine  of  fourpcnce  ;  and  they  shall  also 
pay  a  religious  regard  to  the  Lord's  Day,  by  keeping  in  their  rooms,  and 
not  visiting,  or  admitting  others  into  their  company.     And  it  is  judged 


1738-1764.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  29 

expedient,  and  hereby  ordered,  that  no  student  be  out  of  his  room,  on  the 
evening  next  after  Saturday,  or  next  after  Lord's  Day,  except  for  religious 
purposes,  or  some  necessary  occasion,  under  penalty  of  fourpence  for  every 
said  offence. 

4.  If  any  student  shall  be  convicted  of  drunkenness,  fornication,  lying, 
theft,  or  any  other  scandalous  crime,  he  shall  be  admonished,  make  a  pub 
lic  confession,  or  be  expelled,  according  to  the  aggravation  of  the  crime ; 
provided,  always,  that  no  member  be  expelled  the  college  without  the 
consent  of  at  least  six  of  the  Trustees,  —  the  President,  in  the  interim, 
having  power  to  suspend  such  offenders. 

5.  None  of  the  students  shall  frequent  taverns  or  places  of  public  enter 
tainment,  or  keep  company  with  persons  of  known  scandalous  lives,  who 
will  be  likely  to  vitiate  their  morals.     Those  that  practise  contrary  to  this 
law,  shall  first  be  admonished,  and  if  they  still  persist  in  such  dangerous 
courses,  they  shall  be  expelled  the  college. 

6.  None  of  the  students  shall  play  at  cards,  or  dice,  or  any  other  unlaw 
ful  game,  upon  the  penalty  of  a  fine  not  exceeding  five  shillings  for  the 
first  offence  ;  for  the  second,  public  admonition  ;  and  for  the  third,  expul 
sion. 

7.  Those  students  who  bring  into  their  chambers,  without  a  permit 
from  the  President  or  some  of  the  tutors,  wine,  metheglin,  or  any  kind 
of  distilled  spirituous  liquors,  shall  be  punished  in  a  fine  not  exceeding 
five  shillings  for  each  offence. 

8.  None  of  the  students  shall  be  absent  from  their  chambers,  without 
leave  first  obtained  from  the  President  or  one  of  the  tutors,  unless  half 
an  hour  after  morning  prayers  and  recitation,  an  hour  and  a  half  after 
dinner,  and  from  evening  prayers  till  seven  o'clock,  on  the  penalty  of  four- 
pence  for  each  offence. 

9.  If  any  scholar  shall  persist  in  the  careless  neglect  of  his  studies,  and 
shall  not  make  suitable  preparation  for  the  stated  recitations,  and  other 
scholastic  exercises  appointed  for  his  instruction,  he  shall,  after  due  admo 
nition,  be  expelled. 

10.  Scholars  shall  not  go  out  of  town,  except  by  the  President's  or  tu 
tor's  license,  unless  it  be  in  the  stated  vacation,  on  penalty  of  such  fine  aa 
the  President  shall  think  proper,  not  exceeding  five  shillings  for  the  first 
offence  ;  and  if,  after  admonition,  they  continually  repeat  the  offence,  they 
shall  be  expelled. 

1 1 .  The  tutors  shall  frequently  visit  their  pupils  in  their  chambers,  to 

3* 


30  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  I. 

direct  and  encourage  them  in  their  studies,  and  see  that  they  are  diligently 
employed  about  their  proper  business. 

12.  No  jumping,  hollaring,  or  boisterous  noise  shall  be  suffered  in  the 
college  at  any  time,  or  walking  in  the  gallery  in  the  time  of  study. 

13.  Whoever  shall  do  any  damage,  designedly,  by  writing,  marking, 
etc.,  in  any  part  of  the  college,  shall  pay  fourfold  the  real  damage  ;  if  acci 
dentally,  shall  make  it  good  ;  and  what  damage  is  done,  and  the  authors 
thereof  cannot  be  detected,  shall  be  levied  equally  on  them  that  live  in  the 
room  or  in  the  gallery  where  it  is  done  ;  if  in  the  library  or  hall,  or  any 
part  of  the  college  unoccupied,  to  be  levied  equally  on  all. 

14.  If  any  scholar  refuses  to  open  his  door  to  the  President  or  tutors, 
who  may  signify  their  presence  by  a  stamp,  they  may  break  it  down  ;  and 
the  scholar  so  refusing  shall  be  punished  as  in  a  case  of  contempt  of 
authority. 

15.  The  students  of  the  college  shall  be  obliged  to  appear  in  such  habits 
as  the  President,  tutors,  and  any  of  the  Trustees  shall  fix  upon. 

16.  Every  member  of  the  college  shall  treat  the  authority  of  the  same, 
and  all  superiors,  in  a  becoming  manner,  paying  that  respect  to  every 
one  considered  in  his  proper  place. 

17.  Every  scholar  in  college  shall  keep  his  hat  off  about  ten  rods  to  the 
President,  and  five  to  the  tutors. 

18.  Every  Freshman  sent  of  an  errand  shall  go  and  do  it  faithfully,  and 
make  quick  return. 

19.  Every  scholar  shall  rise  up  and  make  obeisance  when  the  Presi 
dent  goes  in  or  but  of  the  hall,  or  enters  the  pulpit  on  days  of  religious 
worship. 

20.  If  walking  with  a  superior,  he  shall  give  him  the  highest  place. 

21.  If  called  upon  or  spoken  to  by  a  superior,  he  shall,  if  within  hear 
ing,  give  a  direct  and  pertinent  answer,  with  the  word  Sir  at  the  end 
thereof. 

22.  If  overtaking  a  superior,  or  if  met  by  him  going  up  or  down  stairs, 
he  shall  stop,  giving  him  the  banister  side. 

23.  No  Freshman  shall  wear  a  gown. 

24.  No  member  of  the  college  shall  wear  his  hat  in  the  college  at  any 
time,  or  appear  in  the  dining-room  at  meal-time,  or  in  the  hall  at  any 
public  exercise,  or  knowingly  in  the  presence  of  the  superiority  of  the  col 
lege,  without  an  upper  garment,  and  having  shoes  and  stockings  tight. 

While  a  member  of  college,  Manning  occasionally  re- 


1738-1701.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 

turned  to  Hopewell,  and  assisted  Mr.  Eaton  in  the  instruc 
tion  of  the  pupils  under  his  care.  Concerning  his  student- 
life  our  information  is  very  limited.  He  was  remarkable 
for  diligence  and  attention  to  his  studies,  •— habits  which 
soon  gained  for  him  a  reputation  for  superior  scholarship. 
In  rhetoric,  eloquence,  moral  philosophy,  and  the  classics, 
he  especially  excelled.  He  was  fond  of  athletic  exercise, 
and  devoted  many  of  his  hours  for  recreation  to  manly 
and  invigorating  sports.  "  Sana  mem  in  sano  corpora  " 
was  his  motto.  In  his  conduct  he  was  uniformly  regular, 
and  he  thus  maintained  a  good  standing  with  the  officers 
of  the  college,  without  losing  thereby  the  friendship  and 
esteem  of  his  fellow-students. 

While  a  student  at  the  academy,  Manning  had  formed 
an  acquaintance  with  the  Hev.  Oliver  Hart,  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  Church  in  Charleston,  S.  C.  This  proved  to  him 
a  source  of  great  pleasure  and  profit.  Mr.  Hart  was  his 
senior  by  about  fifteen  years,  and  was  eminently  a  re 
ligious  man.  He  was  the  main  founder  of  the  "  Charles 
ton  Baptist  Association,"  that  venerable  and  useful  body, 
through  the  medium  of  which  he  continued  to  shed  upon 
the  denomination  at  the  South  the  benign  influences  of 
his  well-balanced  mind,  for  thirty  years.  He  also,  in  con 
nection  with  the  Rev.  Francis  Pelot  and  others,  founded, 
in  1755,  "The  Religious  Society,"  to  aid  pious  young  men 
in  obtaining  an  education  for  the  public  services  of  the 
church.  One  of  the  earliest  beneficiaries  of  this  society 
was  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stillman,  whose  name  occurs  so  fre 
quently  throughout  these  pages.  During  the  latter  part 
of  Manning's  Junior  year  in  college,  and  shortly  after  the 
death  of  President  Duvies,  Mr.  Hart  addressed  to  him  a 
letter,  which  we  here  introduce,  although  it  interrupts  for 
a  moment  the  narrative  :  — 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  I. 


CHARLESTON,  April  27,  1761. 
MY  DEAR  FRIEND  : 

I  received  your  kind  letter  of  the  1st  of  March,  ult.,  together  with 
President  Davies'  sermon  on  the  death  of  his  late  Majesty,  —  for  which 
favors  I  return  my  most  unfeigned  thanks.  You  intimate  that  you  have 
written  me  several  letters  heretofore.  I  have  received  only  one  of  them,  — 
as  near  as  I  can  remember,  above  two  years  ago,  —  and  to  which  I  returned 
an  answer  by  the  first  opportunity.  I  lament  with  you  (and  surely  all 
the  friends  of  Zion  must  mourn)  the  loss  of  the  justly  celebrated  President 
Davies.  Oh,  what  floods  of  sorrow  must  have  overwhelmed  the  minds 
of  many,  when  it  was  echoed  from  house  to  house  and  from  village  to 
village,  as  in  the  dismal  sound  of  hoarse  thunder,  President  Davies  is  no 
more  !  Oh,  sad  and  melancholy  dispensation  !  Arise,  all  ye  sons  of  pity, 
and  mourn  with  those  that  mourn.  And  thou,  my  soul,  let  drop  the 
flowing  tear  while  commiserating  the  bereaved  and  distressed.  Alas 
for  the  dear  woman,  whose  beloved  is  taken  away  with  a  stroke  !  May 
Jesus  be  her  husband,  her  strength,  and  her  stay.  Alas  for  the  bereaved 
children !  May  their  father's  God  be  their  God  in  covenant.  Alas  for 
the  church  of  Christ !  Deprived  of  one  of  the  principal  pillars,  how 
grievous  the  stroke  to  thee !  But  Jesus,  thy  head  and  foundation,  ever 
lives. 

And  thou,  Nassau  Hall,  lately  so  flourishing,  so  promising,  under  the 
auspicious  management  of  so  worthy  a  President  —  what  might  we  not 
have  expected  from  thee  !  But  alas  !  How  is  the  mighty  fallen  in  thee ! 
How  cloth  the  large  and  beautiful  house  appear  as  a  widow  in  sable  weeds ! 
And  thy  sons,  lately  so  gay  and  pleasant,  as  well  as  promising  and  con 
tented  —  how  do  they  retire  into  their  apartments,  and  there  with  bitter 
sighs,  heavy  groans,  and  broken  accents,  languish  out,  My  Father,  my 
Father  ! — the  chariot  of  Israel,  and  the  horsemen  thereof!  But  I  can 
write  no  more. 

Yours,  affectionately, 

OLIVER  HART. 

Manning  graduated  on  the  29th  of  September,  1762, 
with  the  second  honors  of  his  class.  This  class  consisted 
of  twenty-one,  and  included  some  excellent  scholars,  who 
afterwards  distinguished  themselves  in  their  several  profes 
sions  and  walks  of  life.  Among  them  may  be  mentioned 


1738-1764.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  33 

his  most  intimate  friend  and  companion,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Hezekiah  Smith,  of  Haverhill,  Mass. ;  Ebenezer  -Hazard, 
who  was  the  first  Postmaster  General  of  the  United  States 
after  the  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  and  who 
afterwards  published  in  two  quarto  volumes  a  valuable 
collection  of  documents  relating  to  American  history; 
Jonathan  Dickinson  Sergeant,  a  member  of  Congress  and 
the  first  Attorney  General  of  Pennsylvania ;  Joseph  Per- 
iam,  for  several  years  a  tutor  in  the  college  ;  Hugh  Alison, 
a  Presbyterian  clergyman  ;  and  the  Hon.  Isaac  Allen, 
who  was  the  valedictorian  of  the  class.  The  distinction 
conferred  upon  Manning  by  the  college  authorities,  in 
awarding  to  him  the  salutatory  addresses,  provoked,  it 
is  said,  some  discontent  among  his  ambitious  compeers. 
This,  however,  is  by  no  means  an  unusual  thing  in  the 
annals  of  our  literary  institutions.  His  Latin  oration,  with 
which  the  exercises  of  Commencement  were  introduced, 
is  spoken  of  in  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette  as  "  an  elegant 
salutatory." 

Soon  after  his  graduation,  he  made  arrangements  to 
enter  upon  the  duties  of  the  profession  to  which  he  had 
already  consecrated  his  life.  By  a  vote  of  the  church, 
taken,  as  appears  from  the  records,  on  the  30th  of  Novem 
ber,  1762,  he  was  called  to  engage  in  the  work  of  the 
Christian  ministry.  On  the  23d  of  March  following,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Margaret  Stites,  daughter 
of  John  Stites,  Esq.,  of  Elizabethtown.  Mr.  Stites  was 
a  "ruling  elder"  in  the  Scotch  Plains  Church,  to  the  use 
fulness  and  respectability  of  which  his  judicious  counsels 
and  large  liberality  greatly  contributed.  He  was  in  afflu 
ent  circumstances,1  and  for  several  years  was  the  mayor 

1  Mr.  Stites  lost  the  greater  part  of  his  property  during  the  revolutionary 
war.  This  will  in  part  account  for  various  allusions  to  Dr.  Manning's  strait 
ened  circumstances  towards  the  close  of  his  life. 


34  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  I. 

or  chief  magistrate  of  the  place.  His  home  at  Connecticut 
Farms,  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  city,  was 
the  centre  of  an  abundant  hospitality,  where  Manning  and 
his  wife  were  ever  welcome  guests.  This  marriage  proved 
a  source  of  great  domestic  felicity.  Mrs.  Manning  pos 
sessed  those  elegant  accomplishments  and  superior  qual 
ities  which  well  accorded  with  her  husband's  character, 
and  happily  fitted  her  for  the  discharge  of  duties  insepa 
rable  from  public  positions  of  honor  and  usefulness.  She 
was  also  lovely  and  attractive  in  person,  if  we  may  judge 
from  her  portrait  in  the  possession  of  a  branch  of  the  family. 
The  blessings  of  offspring  were,  however,  denied  them. 
She  survived  her  beloved  companion  many  years,  and, 
after  a  long  and  retired  widowhood,  died  in  Providence, 
Nov.  9,  1815,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-five.  At 
the  time  of  their  marriage,  she  was  not  a  professor  of  re 
ligion.  During  a  revival  under  her  husband's  preaching, 
in  1775,  she  became  a  hopeful  convert,  and  was  received 
into  the  fellowship  of  the  Baptist  Church.  The  joys  and 
consolations  of  a  well-grounded  hope  in  Christ  thus  com 
forted  her  in  her  bereavement,  soothed  her  declining  years, 
and  cheered  her  dying  hours. 

On  the  19th  of  April,  a  few  weeks  after  his  marriage,  he 
was  publicly  ordained,  and  set  apart  for  his  chosen  work. 
The  sermon  on  the  occasion  was  preached  by  his  brother- 
in-law,  the  Rev.  John  Gano,1  who  had  but  recently  been 


1  Mr.  Gano,  whose  name  frequently  occurs  throughout  these  pages,  was  re 
garded  by  the  early  Baptists  as  a  "  star  of  the  first  magnitude,"  a  "  prince  among 
the  hosts  of  Israel.'1  Possessed  of  superior  natural  talents  and  a  great  knowl 
edge  of  human  nature,  he  adapted  himself  with  singular  readiness  to  the  varied 
circumstances  of  his  eventful  life.  His  ancestors  were  Huguenots.  Francis 
Gerneaux,  his  great-grandfather,  escaped  from  the  island  of  Guernsey  during 
the  hloody  persecution  that  arose  in  consequence  of  the  revocation  of  the  Edict 
of  Nantes,  and,  arriving  in  this  country,  settled  at  New  Rochelle,  where  lie  died 


1738-1764. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  35 


settled  over  the  newly-constituted  Baptist  church  in  New 
York.  His  teacher  and  spiritual  guide  at  the  academy, 
the  Rev.  Isaac  Eaton,  gave  the  charge,  and  his  beloved 

at  the  extraordinary  age  of  one  hundred  and  three  years.  John  was  born  at 
Hopewell,  N.  J.,  July  22, 1727.  His  parents  were  eminently  pious,  and  from  his 
earliest  years  he  was  faithfully  instructed  in  the  great  principles  of  religion.  At 
the  close  of  1754,  or  early  in  1755,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Stites, 
who  proved  to  be  a  most  agreeable  companion,  and  an  efficient  auxiliary  to  his 
usefulness.  Eleven  children  —  seven  sons  and  four  daughters  —  were  the  fruits 
of  this  union;  one  of  whom,  Dr.  Stephen  Gano,  was  for  a  period  of  thirty-six 
years  (1792-1828)  the  honored  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Providence. 
In  June,  1762,  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  New  York,  consisting  of  twenty- 
seven  members  dismissed  for  this  purpose  from  the  Scotch  Plains  Church,  was 
organized,  and  Mr.  Gauo  became  its  pastor.  Here  he  continued  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century,  excepting  the  time  he  was  absent  from  the  city  in  consequence 
of  the  war.  During  his  ministry  the  church  was  greatly  prospered,  receiving 
by  baptism  about  three  hundred  members. 

Mr.  Gano  early  espoused  the  cause  of  his  country  in  the  contest  with  Great 
Britain.  At  the  commencement  of  the  war  he  joined  the  standard  of  freedom 
in  the  capacity  of  chaplain,  and  by  his  preaching  contributed  not  a  little  to  im 
part  a  determined  spirit  to  the  soldiers.  He  continued  in  the  army  till  the  con 
clusion  of  the  war.  Many  anecdotes  are  told  of  him  illustrative  of  his  skill  in 
administering  reproof.  A  lieutenant,  after  uttering  some  profane  expressions, 
accosted  him,  saying,  "  Good-morning,  Doctor."—'1  Good-morning,  sir,"  replied 
the  chaplain.  "  You  pray  early  this  morning."—  "  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,"  said 
the  lieutenant.  "  Oh,  I  cannot  pardon  you;  carry  your  case  to  God."  Stand 
ing  near  some  soldiers  who  were  disputing  whose  turn  it  was  to  cut  wood  for 
the  fire,  one  of  them  said  he  would  be  d d  if  he  would  cut  it.  Mr.  Gano  im 
mediately  stepped  up,  saying,  "  Give  me  the  axe."  "  Oh  no,"  replied  the  sol 
dier  ;  "  the  chaplain  sha'n't  cut  wood."  "  Yes,"  said  he,  "  I  must.  I  just  heard 

you  say  you  would  be  d d  if  you  would  cut  it;  and  1  should  rather  take  the 

labor  off  your  hands  than  to  have  you  made  miserable  forever." 

In  1788,  Mr.  Gano  left  his  society  in  New  York,  and  removed  to  Kentucky. 
He  died  at  Frankfort,  in  1804,  in  the  seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age.  "  He  was  in 
person,"  says  Dr.  Furman,  "below  the  middle  stature,  and  when  young  of  a 
slender  form  ;  but  of  a  firm,  vigorous  constitution,  well  fitted  for  performing 
active  services  with  ease,  and  for  suffering  labors  and  privations  with  constancy. 
In  the  more  advanced  stages  of  life,  his  body  tended  to  corpulency.  His  pres 
ence  was  manly,  open,  and  engaging,  and  his  voice  strong  and  commanding. 
Like  John,  the  harbinger  of  our  Redeemer,  '  he  was  a  burning  and  a  shining 
light,  and  many  rejoiced  in  his  light.'  Resembling  the  sun.  he  arose  in  the 
church  with  morning  brightness,  advanced  regularly  to  his  station  of  meridian 
splendor,  and  then  gently  declined,  with  mild  effulgence,  till  he  disappeared, 
without  a  cloud  to  intercept  his  rays  or  obscure  his  glory." 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  I. 

friend,  the  Rey.  Isaac  Stelle,1  of  Piscataway,  made  the 
ordaining  prayer.  For  about  a  year  after  this  event, 
Manning  travelled  through  the  colonies,  to  ascertain  the 
actual  state  of  religion,  and  to  prepare  himself  for  more 
widely-extended  usefulness,  by  a  thorough  acquaintance 
with  men  and  manners,  and  an  accurate  knowledge  of  the 
condition  and  wants  of  the  denomination  to  which  he  was 
attached.  No  record  is  left  to  indicate  the  extent,  or  to 
exhibit  the  incidents,  of  his  journeyings.  He  preached 
during  this  period  to  various  destitute  churches,  and  every 
where  his  labors  appear  to  have  been  highly  acceptable. 
By  the  following  letter  from  the  Rev.  Oliver  Hart,  it 
appears  that  Manning  was  invited  to  assist  him  in  his 


Memoirs  of  Mr.  Gano's  life,  written  principally  by  himself,  were  published,  in 
a  small  duodecimo,  in  1806.  He  was  one  of  the  first  trustees  of  Rhode  Island 
College,  and,  until  his  removal  to  Kentucky,  cooperated  most  efficiently  with 
President  Manning  in  his  efforts  to  promote  the  cause  of  sound  learning  and 
ministerial  education. 

1  Mr.  Stelle  was  the  son  of  Benjamin  Stelle,  a  worthy  magistrate,  who  for 
many  years  was  pastor  of  the  Piscataway  Church.    Upon  the  death  of  Benjamin, 
in  1759,  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Isaac,  who  continued  in  this  pastoral  office 
until  Oct.  9,  1781,  when  he  died,  in  the  sixty-third  year  of  his  age.    He  possessed 
a   temperament  exceedingly  active,  and  a  disposition   uncommonly   amiable. 
Fired  by  ardent  piety,  he  longed  for  usefulness,  and,  under  the  guidance  of  Mr. 
Miller,  to  whom  we  have  already  referred  as  Manning's  early  pastor,  he  engaged 
in  itinerating  labors  remarkable  even  for  that  age.    Between  these  brethren 
there  existed  the  strongest  ties  of  personal  friendship  and  esteem.    "  Lovely 
and  pleasant,"  says  one,  "  were  they  in  their  lives,  and  in  death  they  were  not 
much  divided,  —  the  one  having  survived  the  other  only  about  thirty-five  days." 
"  If  one  was  grieved,  it  did  them  both  annoy; 
If  one  rejoiced,  the  other  felt  the  joy; 
When  one  was  gone,  the  other  could  not  stay, 
But  quickly  hastened  to  eternal  day." 

Benjamin,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Isaac  Stelle,  graduated  at  the  College  of  New 
Jersey  in  the  year  1766.  He  came  to  Providence  and  established  a  Latin  school, 
as  we  learn  from  a  letter  of  President  Manning  to  David  Howell,  dated  July 
14,  1766.  The  late  Hon.  Nicholas  Bro\vn  married  a  daughter  of  this  Mr.  Stelle 
for  his  second  wite. 


1738-1764.  -BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  37 

labors  as  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Charleston. 
This  invitation,  or,  strictly  speaking,  call  from  the  church, 
fortunately  for  the  interests  of  learning  and  religion  in 
New  England,  he  declined,  having  already  entered  upon 
the  great  educational  work  to  which  his  future  life  was  to 
be  consecrated.  The  Rev.  Nicholas  Bedgegood,  it  may 
be  added,  was  afterwards  employed  as  an  assistant  to  Mr. 
Hart ;  and,  by  his  popular  talents  and  pleasing  address, 
gained  so  much  upon  the  admiration  of  many,  that  an 
attempt,  although  unsuccessful,  was  made  to  supplant  Mr. 
Hart,  and  to  place  the  assistant  in  the  pastoral  office. 


CHARLESTON,  June  20,  1763. 
DEAR  MR.  MANNING  : 

A  few  days  ago  I  had  the  pleasure  to  forward  a  call  to  you,  from  this 
church,  to  come  over  and  assist  me  in  breaking  the  bread  of  life  to  the 
dear  people  of  my  charge.  I  hope  enough  has  been  said  to  induce  you 
to  come  over  to  this  "  delightful  region,"  if  I  may  use  your  own  words. 
Since  I  wrote  to  you  last,  I  have  received  letters  from  Mr.  Gano,  who 
informs  me  that  you  are  married,  ordained,  and  not  settled  ;  or  that  you 
intend  a  journey  to  the  eastward  before  you  settle  anywhere.  I  assure 
you  that  this  gives  me  hope  that  you  will  settle  to  the  southward,  seeing 
you  are  not  yet  engaged. 

I  congratulate  you  on  your  having  entered  into  a  new  state  of  life,  and 
hope  you  will  enjoy  all  the  comforts  which  the  married  state  can  afford. 
I  welcome  you  into  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  as  one  of  his  laborers.  You 
are  now  an  ambassador  for  the  King  of  kings.  I  doubt  not  but  that  a 
sense  of  the  importance  of  the  work  lies  with  weight  upon  your  rnind. 
Well,  he  who  is  the  Lord  our  righteousness  is  also  the  Lord  our  strength. 
I  have  only  to  say,  I  hope  God  will  send  you  upon  an  embassy  to  this 
place,  where  you  will  be  welcomed  to  my  heart,  to  my  house,  and  to  my 
people,  and  where  you  will  have  a  hopeful  prospect  of  doing  much  good. 

Remember  me  in  kind  love  to  your  other  self.     Tell  her  I  wish  her  joy 

in  her  new  state,  and  hope  for  the  pleasure  of  saluting  her  in  Charleston, 

where  many  whose  ambition  •  will  be  to  make  her  happy  will  rejoice  to 

see  her.     If  the  call  should  happen,  by  any  means,  to  miscarry,  pray  look 

4 


38  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  I. 

upon  this  as  one,  and  do  not  engage  till  you  receive  a  duplicate  of  that 
already  sent.     I  wish  you  great  grace,  and  am 

Yours,  in  Jesus, 

OLIVER  HART. 


It  was  about  the  time  of  Manning's  graduation  that  the 
plan  of  establishing  a  Baptist  college  or  university  for  the 
education,  more  especially,  of  young  men  for  the  ministry, 
was  freely  discussed  by  many  prominent  men  in  the  de 
nomination.  There  were  important  reasons  for  a  move 
ment  of  this  kind.  The  only  colleges  in  New  England 
were  Harvard l  and  Yale,1  both  under  the  control  of  Con- 
gregationalists.  The  College  of  New  Jersey1  had  been 
established  by  the  Presbyterians.  The  remaining  colleges, 
Columbia1  in  New  York,  William  and  Mary l  in  Virginia, 
and  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,1  had  been  established 
by  Episcopalians,  and  were  under  their  control.  Those 
who  consult  the  pages  of  our  early  historians,  and,  indeed, 
the  correspondence  of  Manning  in  future  chapters  of  this 
work,  will  readily  perceive  that  towards  the  Baptists,  as 
a  people,  the  Congregationalists  of  New  England  enter 
tained  unfriendly  feelings,  —  taxing  them  unjustly,  and  op 
pressing  them  in  various  ways,  in  accordance  with  the 
narrow  and  illiberal  policy  of  a  past  age.  In  regard  to 
Episcopalians,  the  opinion  was  entertained,  "  whether  cor 
rectly  or  not,"  says  Prof.  Kingsley  in  his  Life  of  Dr.  Stiles, 
"  it  is  unimportant  here  to  determine,  that  the  Episcopal 
clergy  generally,  and  the  leading  individuals  among  the 
laity  in  the  same  communion,  especially  in  New  England, 

i  Harvard  College  was  founded  in  1638;  William  and  Mary,  in  1692;  Yale,  in 
1701;  College  of  New  Jersey,  in  1746;  University  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1753;  and 
Columbia  College,  in  1754.  Of  the  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  colleges  men 
tioned  in  the  National  Almanac  for  1864,  Brown  University,  therefore,  which 
was  founded  in  1764,  is  the  seventh  in  the  order  of  date. 


1738-1764. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  39 


were  hostile  to  the  privileges  granted  in  several  of  the 
royal  charters,  and  were  endeavoring  to  undermine  them." 
Hence  from  political  considerations,  aside  from  all  others, 
the  majority  of  religious  people  throughout  the  colonies 
found  themselves  opposed  to  the  interests  of  the  Episcopal 
church.  In  this  feeling  the  Baptists,  who  from  their  earli 
est  history  have  always  advocated  religious  freedom,  and 
equality  among  men,  very  naturally  shared.  The  fact  that 
the  English  Government,  in  its  appointments  to  office,  re 
stricted  its  selection  to  members  of  the  Episcopal  church, 
contributed  not  a  little  to  this  feeling.  It  is  not,  therefore, 
unreasonable  to  infer  that  they  regarded  with  no  favorable 
eye  institutions  of  learning  where  sectarian  and  restrictive 
influences  prevailed.  In  order,  however,  to  a  proper  un 
derstanding  of  the  origin  of  Brown  University,  it  may  be 
well  at  this  point  to  go  back  half  a  century,  and  consider 
briefly  the  first  distinct  organization  on  this  continent  of 
the  Baptists  as  a  religious  society. 

In  the  year  1707,  on  the  27th  of  July,  a  meeting  of  del 
egates  from  Baptist  churches  in  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey, 
and  Delaware  was  held  at  Philadelphia.  The  object  of 
this  meeting,  as  appears  from  the  records,  was  "  to  consult 
about  such  things  as  were  wanting  in  the  churches,  and  set 
them  in  order,"  and  in  general  to  promote  the  welfare  of 
the  denomination.  Hence  the  origin  of  the  Philadelphia 
Association.  The  brethren  who  assembled  on  this  occa 
sion  represented  the  churches  at  Lower  Dublin,  Middle- 
town,  Piscataqua,  Cohansie,  and  Welsh  Tract.  The  General 
Meeting,  so  called,  which  had  been  held  at  Philadelphia 
from  1689,  was  thus  transformed  into  an  Association  of 
Messengers,  authorized  by  their  respective  churches  to  de 
vise  and  execute  designs  of  public  good.  From  its  begin 
ning,  it  has  been  a  flourishing  body.  According  to  the 


40  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  I. 

statistics  of  its  156th  anniversary,  held  on  the  6th,  7th,  and 
8th  of  October,  1863,  it  now  comprises  sixty  churches,  with 
a  membership,  if  we  may  so  speak,  of  12,862.  At  a  com 
paratively  early  period,  the  churches  thus  associated  pro 
jected  plans  to  secure  an  educated  ministry.  In  looking 
over  the  records,  we  find  in  1722  a  proposition  "for  the 
churches  to  make  inquiry  among  themselves,  if  they  have 
any  young  persons  hopeful  for  the  ministry,  and  inclinable 
for  learning ;  and  if  they  have,  to  give  notice  of  it  to  Mr. 
Abel  Morgan,  before  the  first  of  November,  that  he  might 
recommend  such  to  the  academy,  on  Mr.  Hollis,  his  ac 
count."  Reference  is  here  had  to  Thomas  Hollis,  Esq.,  of 
London,  the  distinguished  benefactor  of  Harvard  Uni 
versity.1  He  had  recently  founded  ten  scholarships, 
directing  that  the  incumbents  should  be  poor  students, 
who  were  intended  for  the  "  ministry  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ;  "  "  and  that  none,"  to  use  his  own  language,  "  be 
refused  on  account  of  his  belief  and  practice  of  adult  bap 
tism,  if  he  be  sober  and  religiously  inclined."  In  a  letter 
to  the  Rev.  Ephraim  Wheaton,  of  Swanzey,  Massachusetts, 
which  we  find  published  in  the  first  volume  of  the  Massa 
chusetts  Missionary  Magazine,  Mr.  Hollis,  in  reference  to 

1  Mr.  Hollis  commenced  his  donations  to  Harvard  in  1719.  Besides  making 
valuable  additions  to  the  library  and  philosophical  apparatus,  he  established  a 
fund  for  the  support  of  ten  poor  scholars,  a  Professor  of  Divinity,  and  a  Pro 
fessor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy;  the  scholars  to  receive  each  £10 
currency  per  annum,  and  the  professors  each  a  salary  of  £80  currency,  or  £26 
sterling.  "The  aggregate  of  his  donations,"  says  Peirce  in  his  history  of  the 
University,  ';  wr.s  not  much,  if  at  all,  short  of  £2000  sterling.  So  large  an 
amount  was  never  given  to  the  college  before  by  any  one  individual ;  and  when 
it  is  considered  that  all  this  came  from  a  stranger  in  a  distant  land,  from  one  of 
the  then  poor,  despised  Baptists,  during  the  lifetime  of  the  donor,  and  at  a  time 
when  the  value  of  money  was  vastly  greater  than  it  is  now,  what  breast  does  not 
glow  with  grateful  admiration!  Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  difference  in 
the  value  of  money  then  and  now,  by  considering  that  the  salary  of  a  professor 
was  at  first  only  £26  sterling,  and  that  this  was  then  called  an  honorable  stipend." 


1738-1764.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  41 

these  scholarships,  speaks  of  having  made  provision  for 
"Baptist  youth  to  be  educated  for  the  ministry,  and 
equally  regarded  with  Psedobaptists,"  and  requests  Mr. 
Wheaton  to  inform  him  of  any  duly  qualified,  that  he  may 
recommend  them  for  the  first  vacancy.  He  also  corre 
sponded  with  the  Philadelphia  Association  on  the  subject. 
Hence  the  churches  were  fully  authorized  to  avail  them 
selves  of  his  generosity.  This  provision,  however,  of  Mr. 
Hollis,  proved  of  little  avail  to  the  Baptists,  in  consequence 
of  the  growing  unfriendliness  exhibited  towards  them 
throughout  most  of  the  New  England  States.  Meanwhile, 
churches  of  their  faith  and  order  were  rapidly  multiplying  ; 
and  as  educated  ministers  could  not  be  had  in  numbers 
sufficient  to  supply  the  demand,  they  were  compelled  to 
accept  the  services  of  men,^  who,  though  destitute  of  the 
aids  of  literary  and  scientific  culture,  were  nevertheless 
taught  by  the  Holy  Spirit;  and  who,  with  hearts  overflow 
ing  with  love  and  zeal,  proclaimed  the  precious  truths  of 
the  gospel  with  a  power,  unction,  and  success  which  have 
not  always  been  the  accompaniments  of  a  learned  ministry. 
In  the  year  1756,  the  academy  at  Hopewell  was  estab 
lished,  as  we  have  already  stated,  by  the  Rev.  Isaac  Eaton, 
a  name  dear  to  the  Baptist  society  in  America,  and  to  all 
true  friends  of  learning  and  religion.  In  the  welfare  and 
progress  of  this  academy,  the  Philadelphia  and  Charleston 
Associations  ever  manifested  a  lively  interest.  They  ap 
pointed  certain  trustees  to  have  a  general  oversight  of  its 
affairs,  and  generously  contributed  towards  its  support  a 
fund,  of  which  the  parent  association  furnished  about  four 
hundred  pounds.  Under  the  wise  supervision  of  its  founder 
and  principal,  it  was  continued  eleven  years,  during  which 
time, many,  who  afterwards  became  eminent  in  the  ministry, 
received  thereat  the  rudiments  of  an  education.  Among 
4* 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  I. 

them  may  be  mentioned,  besides  Manning,  Dr.  Samuel 
Jones,  Dr.  Hezekiah  Smith,  Dr.  Isaac  Skillman,  David 
Thomas,  John  Davis,  William  Williams,  Robert  Keith, 
Charles  Thompson,  David  Jones,  John  Sntton,  David  Sut- 
ton,  James  Talbot,  John  Blackwell,  Joseph  Powell,  Wil 
liam  Worth,  and  Levi  Bonnel.  Not  a  few  of  Mr.  Eaton's 
students  distinguished  themselves  in  the  professions  of 
medicine  and  law.  Of  this  latter  class  was  the  Hon.  Judge 
Ho  well,  of  whom  we  shall  have  occasion  hereafter  to  make 
frequent  mention. 

This  attempt  to  introduce  learning  in  the  Baptist  society 
having  succeeded  beyond  the  most  sanguine  expectations 
of  its  friends,  the  churches  were  encouraged  to  extend  their 
designs  for  the  promotion  of  letters,  by  the  establishment, 
in  some  part  of  the  colonies,  of  a  college  or  university. 
Many  of  them  had  been  supplied  with  able  pastors  from 
the  academy,  and  had  thus  become  convinced  from  expe 
rience  of  the  great  usefulness  of  a  classical  and  scientific 
education,  in  more  thoroughly  furnishing  the  man  of  God 
for  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry.  At  first  it  seemed 
most  fitting  to  commence  the  undertaking  in  some  one  of 
the  southern  colonies  ;  but  several  members  of  the  Associa 
tion  having  visited  the  New  England  States,  and  seen  the 
great  increase  of  Baptist  churches  there,  and  having  ascer 
tained  the  fact  that  the  government  of  Rhode  Island1  was 
chiefly  in  the  hands  of  those  who  would  be  likely  to  favor 


i  Mr.  Edwards,  in  his  "  Materials,"  etc.,  says,  "  The  Province  of  Rhode  Island 
and  Providence  may  on  some  accounts  be  styled  the  Land  of  Baptists;  "  first,  be 
cause  "  they  who  settled  the  country  were  chiefly  of  that  denomination;  "  second 
ly,  because  :<  they  have  always  been  more  numerous  than  any  other  sect  of  Chris 
tians  which  dwell  therein,  two  fifths  of  the  inhabitants,  at  least,  being  reputed 
Baptists;  "  thirdly,  because  "  the  Baptists  in  this  Government  have  always  had 
much  power  in  their  hands,  both  legislative  and  executive.  Their  governors, 
deputy  governors,  judges,  assembly  men,  justices,  and  officers  (military  and 


1738-1764. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 

the  design,  it  was  determined  to  make  the  effort  in  that 
colony,  which  originally  had  been  settled  by  persons  of  the 
Baptist  persuasion. 

On  the  12th  of  October,  1762,  the  Association,  now  com 
prising  twenty-nine  churches,  met  at  the  Lutheran  Church, 
in  Fifth  Street,  Philadelphia.     The  Rev.  Morgan  Edwards 
was  chosen  moderator,  and  the  Rev.  Abel  Morgan,  clerk. 
At  this  meeting,  says  Backus,  "the  Association  obtained 
such  an  acquaintance  with  the  affiairs  of  Rhode  Island,  as 
to  bring  themselves  to  an  apprehension  that  it  was  prac 
ticable  and  expedient  to  erect  a  college  in  the  colony  of 
Rhode  Island,  under  the  chief  direction  of  the  Baptists,  in 
which  education  might  be  promoted,  and  superior  learning 
obtained,  free   from  any  sectarian  tests."     The   principal 
mover  in  this  matter  was  Morgan  Edwards,  to  whom,  with 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Jones,  the  business  in   general  appears 
to  have   been  intrusted.     This  gentleman,  who   had   but 
recently  been   settled  in  Philadelphia,   was  a  native  of 
Wales,  having  come  to  this  country  upon  the  recommend 
ation  of  Dr.  Gill  and  other  prominent  ministers  in  London. 
He  had  been  bred  an  Episcopalian,  but  in  1738  he  embraced 
the  sentiments  of  the  Baptists.     He  received  his  academ 
ical  education  in  Bristol,  under  Dr.  Foskett,  and  in  his 
sixteenth  year  entered  upon  the  work  of  the  Christian 
ministry.     Possessing  superior  abilities,  united  with  great 
perseverance  and  zeal,  he   became  the  leader  in  various 
denominational   enterprises,   devoting   to   them   his  time 
and  talents,  and  thereby  rendering  essential  service  to  the 
cause.     Many   of  his   sermons,   treatises,   and   historical 

civil)  have  been  chiefly  of  that  denominatibn.  The  last  reason  I  shall  mention 
is,  that  their  college  is  a  Baptist  college;  the  Baptists  only  made  the  motion  for 
it',  the  Baptists  only  gathered  money  to  endow  it;  the  head  of  it,  and  about  two 
thirds  of  the  Fellows  and  Trustees,  must  ever  be  of  that  denomination." 


44:  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  I. 

works  have  been  published.  In  one  of  them,  entitled  "  Ma 
terials  towards  a  History  of  the  Baptists  in  Pennsyl 
vania,"  he  speaks  of  himself  as  having  "labored  hard  to 
settle  a  Baptist  college  in  Rhode  Island  Government,  and 
to  raise  money  to  endow  it ;  which  he  deems  the  greatest 
service  he  has  done  or  hopes  to  do  for  the  Baptist  interest." 
This  was  in  1770.  Mr.  Edwards  died  on  the  28th  of  Jan 
uary,  1795,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his  age.  His  funeral 
sermon,  preached  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Rogers,  was 
published  in  Dr.  Rippon's  Anmial Register,  a  work  printed 
in  London.  This  sermon  gives  an  analysis  of  his  charac 
ter,1  and  an  enumeration  of  his  published  writings. 

1  Dr.  Rogers'  friendly  estimate  of  Mr.  Edwards's  character  and  influence,  as 
recorded  in  this  sermon,  was  that  of  his  brethren  and  associates  generally.  It  is 
understood,  however,  that  Mr.  Edwards's  relations  with  the  church  in  Philadel 
phia  during  the  latter  part  of  his  ministry  were  not  entirely  harmonious.  In 
1770,  he  preached  a  New  Year's  sermon  from  the  text,  "  This  year  thou  shalt 
die."  He  had,  from  some  unaccountable  impulse,  been  led  to  believe  that  he 
should  die  on  a  particular  day,  and  this  sermon  was  supposed  by  some  to  have 
been  intended  as  his  own  funeral  sermon.  This  circumstance  could  not  but 
eflect  his  reputation  injuriously.  In  addition  to  this,  he  is  said  to  have  indulged, 
occasionally,  in  the  excessive  use  of  intoxicating  drinks.  Under  these  circum 
stances,  he  voluntarily  resigned  his  charge,  preaching  occasionally  until  the  set 
tlement  ot  his  successor,  Dr.  Rogers,  in  1772.  The  following  extract  from  letters 
addressed  to  the  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith,  by  the  Rev.  Francis  Pelot,  of  Eutaw, 
South  Carolina,  shows  Mr.  Edwards's  position  at  this  time  in  a  friendly  light. 
The  letter  is  dated  Oct.  28, 1771.  "  I  then  wish  "  (referring  to  the  Philadelphia 
church)  "they  would  agree  with  their  Mr.  Edwards  again.  Thus  I  argue  to 
myself:  -  If  he  may  preach  occasionally,  why  not  steadily?  '  '  Oh!  but  he  has 
not  behaved  as  well  as  he  should.'  I  reply,  'There  cannot  be  anything  immoral, 
or  he  would  not  be  allowed  to  preach  occasionally,  and  the  mantle  CHARITY, 
would  easily  cover  small  imperfections.  Besides,  the  present  dissatisfaction,  no 
doubt,  would  make  him  more  cautious  for  the  future,  and  might  be  a  means  of 
preserving  the  usefulness  of  a  talented  man,  —  a  man  who  has  scarce  his  lellow  in 
a  warm  attachment  to  the  Baptist  interest.' "  In  a  letter  dated  April  8, 1772,  Mr. 
Pelot  adds,  t;  We  were  favored  with  the  company  of  Rev.  Morgan  Edwards  at  my 
house  for  about  u  week  in  last  January.  We  also  had  his  company  at  our  Asso 
ciation.  We  all  esteem  him  as  a  sensible,  good  man,  and  he  left  us  all  full  of  love 
to  him." 

Kev.  Oliver  Hart,  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  in  a  letter  also  to  Mr.  Smith, 


1738-1704.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  45 

It  was  while  on  his  tour  through  the  colonies,  after  his 
ordination,  that  Manning,  to  whom  this  enterprise  had 
been  specially  intrusted,  first  made  his  appearance  in 
Rhode  Island,  accompanied  by  the  Rev.  John  Button,  of 
Elizabeth  town.  Both  were  members,  at  this  time,  of  the 
Philadelphia  Association.  He  was  now  twenty-five  years 
of  age,  of  a  fine,  commanding  appearance,  pleasing  man 
ner,  and  polished  address.  His  person,  says  a  writer,  was 
graceful,  and  his  countenance  handsome  arid  remarkably 
expressive  of  sensibility,  dignity,  and  cheerfulness.  He 
possessed  a  voice  of  extraordinary  compass  and  harmony, 
to  which,  in  no  small  degree,  may  be  ascribed  the  vivid 
impression  which  he  made  upon  other  minds.  In  his 
manners,  which  seemed  to  be  the  natural  expression  of 
dignity  and  grace,  he  combined  ease  without  negligence, 
and  politeness  without  affectation.  Blest  with  an  amiable 
disposition,  and  possessing  versatile  colloquial  powers,  he 
was  most  engaging  and  instructive  as  a  companion.  He 
possessed,  moreover,  genuine  piety,  and  a  benevolence 
which  beamed  in  every  feature.  And  when  to  all  these 

dated  Feb.  27, 1772,  thus  writes :  "  Rev.  Mr.  Edwards  from  Philadelphia  has  been 
here,  and  tarried  with  us  about  three  weeks.  He  is  a  great  good  man,  but  some 
say  he  preaches  too  slow."  And  in  a  second  letter,  written  the  next  month,  he 
further  adds,  "  In  my  last  I  informed  you  that  we  had  the  pleasure  of  Mr.  Ed- 
wards's  company  at  our  Association.  He  is  a  great  good  man ;  firmly  attached  to 
the  Baptist  interest,  to  promote  which  he  cheerfully  encounters  all  difficulties." 
These  testimonials,  coming  voluntarily  from  two  of  the  most  prominent  Baptist 
ministers  of  the  South,  show  that  Mr.  Edwards,  even  at  a  time  when  his  sun  ap 
peared  to  bo  obscured,  was  a  man  highly  esteemed,  and  that  he  was  worthy  of 
the  honor,  which  is  accorded  to  him,  of  having  been  the  prime  mover  in  origi 
nating  and  founding  Brown  University. 

Mr.  Edwards  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Mary  Nunn,  originally  of 
Cork,  Ireland,  by  whom  he  had  several  children.  His  second  wife  was  Mrs. 
Sinclair,  of  Delaware,  whose  decease  occurred  previous  to  his  own.  One  of  liis 
sons  was  a  military  officer  in  the  British  service.  During  the  war  he  himself 
adhered  to  the  cause  of  Great  Britian,  and  was  justly  ranked  with  the  Tories; 
although  his  Toryism  seemed  rather  a  matter  of  principle  than  of  action. 


4G  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  I. 

gifts  and  accomplishments  we  add  sterling  good  sense,  for 
which  he  was  preeminently  distinguished,  and  superior 
learning,  it  will  readily  be  perceived  that  he  was  well 
fitted  to  act  as  a  pioneer  in  the  great  educational  work 
before  him.  The  history  of  the  enterprise  from  this  point 
may  best  be  given  in  Manning's  own  language,  which  we 
find  in  a  work  among  the  manuscript  writings  of  the  Rev. 
Morgan  Edwards,  entitled  "  Materials  towards  a  History 
of  the  Baptists  in  Rhode  Island." 


"In  the  month  of  July,  1763,  we  arrived  at  Newport,  and  made  a 
motion  to  several  gentlemen  of  the  Baptist  denomination  — whereof  Col. 
Gardner,  the  Deputy  Governor,  was  one  —  relative  to  a  seminary  of  polite 
literature,  subject  to  the  government  of  the  Baptists.  The  motion  was 
properly  attended  to,  which  brought  together  about  fifteen  gentlemen  of 
the  same  denomination  at  the  deputy's  house,  who  requested  that  I  would 
draw  a  sketch  of  the  design,  against  the  day  following.  That  day  came  ; 
and  the  said  gentlemen,  with  other  Baptists,  met  in  the  same  place,  when 
a  rough  draught  was  produced  and  read,  —  the  tenor  of  which  was,  that 
the  institution  was  to  be  a  Baptist  one,  but  that  as  many  of  other  denom 
inations  should  be  taken  in  as  was  consistent  with  the  said  design.1  Ac- 

1  "  Never,"  says  the  Kev.  Dr.  Cutting,  in  an  article  in  the  New  York  Recorder, 
published  Sept.  20,  1854,  which  we  here  quote,  "  were  men  more  decided  in 
religious  faith  than  the  settlers  of  Rhode  Island.  It  was  their  positive  and  zeal 
ous  traits  which  from  the  four  quarters  of  the  earth  sent  them  thither  for  shelter, 
and  there  they  contended  with  each  other  like  earnest  men.  And  yet  they 
practised  mutual  tolerance,  because  the  rights  of  conscience  were  inviolable, 
and  charity  was  a  duty  and  a  grace. 

"  We  suppose  this  to  be  the  true  spirit  of  Brown  University  in  its  relations  to 
religion.  Providing  in  its  charter  for  a  majority  of  Baptists  in  its  corporation, 
it  embraces  in  certain  proportions,  likewise,  Episcopalians,  Quakers,  and  Con- 
gregationalists;  not  because  the  differences  between  Baptists,  Episcopalians, 
Quakers,  and  Congregationalists  are  not  of  importance,  but  because  the  things 
which  they  hold  in  common,  and  the  spirit  of  their  common  faith,  furnish  ample 
ground  for  cooperation  in  the  cause  of  '  polite  literature.'  It  is  the  honor  of 
the  Baptists  that,  when,  by  the  intolerance  of  other  colonies,  they  were  driven  to 


738-1704.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  47 

cordingly,  the  Hon.  Josias  Lyndon  and  Col.  Job  Bennet  were  appointed 
to  draw  a  charter  to  be  laid  before  the  next  General  Assembly,  with  a 
petition  that  they  would  pass  it  into  a  law.  But  the  said  gentlemen 
pleading  unskilfulness  touching  an  affair  of  the  kind,  requested  that  their 
trusty  friend,  the  Rev.  Ezra,  now  Dr.  Stiles,  might  be  solicited  to  assist 
them.  This  was  opposed  by  me  as  unwilling  to  give  the  Doctor  trouble 
about  an  affair  of  other  people ;  but  they  urged  that  his  love  of  learning 
and  Catholicism  would  induce  him  readily  to  give  his  assistance.  Ac 
cordingly  their  proposition  was  consented  to,  and  his  assistance  obtained ; 
or,  rather,  the  draughting  of  the  charter  was  left  entirely  to  him,1  after 
being  told  that  the  Baptists  were  to  have  the  lead  in  the  institution,  and 


Rhode  Island  to  establish  their  college,  they  proceeded  at  once,  and  of  their 
own  motion,  to  call  in  the  counsels  of  gentlemen  of  other  denominations,  and 
to  admit  them  to  a  share  in  the  government,  though  their  catholicity  had  well- 
nigh  cost  them  the  total  loss  of  all  which  they  had  undertaken.  They  did  this, 
not  to  merge  their  faith  in  a  common  indifferentism,  but  to  illustrate  a  compre 
hensive  charity.  They  had  a  '  main  ^design,'  and  a  subordinate  and  collateral 
one.  The  '  main  design  '  was  a  Baptist  college,  especially  for  the  education  of 
their  ministry ;  subordinate  to  this,  and  consistent  with  it,  was  the  design  of  an 
institution  which,  enlisting  a  common  interest,  should  confer  common  blessings 
upon  other  denominations  and  upon  the  State.  Such  a  scheme  was  at  the 
time  utterly  without  a  parallel,  and  must  have  been  regarded  in  the  other  col 
onies  with  something  of  the  amazement  with  which  the  inhabitants  of  Massa 
chusetts  Bay  had  looked,  at  an  earlier  day,  upon  the  broad  religious  liberty  of 
Rhode  Island  and  the  Providence  Plantations.  In  this  original  spirit,  as  we 
believe,  should  the  University  be  administered  forever;  men  of  diverse  faiths 
working  together,  not  because  of  indiffereutism,  but  of  charity,  —  not  as  the  less 
Baptists,  Episcopalians,  Quakers,  and  Congregationalists,  but  as  men  of  common 
interests  in  a  work  which  honors  and  blesses  all.  It  would  be  a  shame  if  such 
an  institution  should  not  be,  as  always  it  has  been,  in  the  highest  and  best  sense 
catholic.  In  our  view,  if  its  catholicity  degenerated  to  indifferentism,  it  would 
cease  to  represent  both  the  spirit  and  the  designs  of  its  founders." 

1  Prof.  Kingsley,  in  his  Life  of  Dr.  Stiles,  states  that  "  a  committee  of  Baptists 
and  Congregationalists  was  appointed  to  draft  a  charter  of  a  college ;  and  of 
this  body,  Mr.  Stiles  and  Mr.  William  Ellery  were  designated  to  prepare  such  an 
instrument  for  their  consideration."  "  It  is  highly  probable,"  he  further  adds, 
"  from  internal  evidence,  that  the  charter  was  drawn  principally  by  Mr.  Stiles; 
Mr.  Ellery  having  little  concern  in  preparing  it,  except  to  see  to  the  correctness 
of  the  legal  language.  Whoever  drew  it,  he  had  obviously  before  him  the  char 
ters  of  Yale  College,  and  was  familiar  with  the  questions  which  had  arisen  with 
respect  to  them.  The  privileges  secured  to  the  University  by  this  charter  are 
very  ample;  and  the  language  of  the  several  provisions  is  remarkably  full, 


48 


MANNING   AND  CHAP.  I. 


the  government  thereof,  forever ;  and  that  no  more  of  other  denominations 
were  to  be  admitted  than  would  be  consistent  with  that.  The  charter 
was  drawn,  and  a  time  and  place  were  appointed  for  the  parties  concerned 
to  meet  and  hear  it  read.  But  the  vessel  in  which  I  was  to  sail  for  Hali 
fax  going  off  that  day,  prevented  my  being  present  with  them  long  enough 
to  see  whether  the  original  design  was  secured  ;  and  as  the  corporation 
was  made  to  consist  of  two  branches,  Trustees  and  Fellows,  and  these 
branches  to  sit  and  act  by  distinct  and  separate  powers,  it  was  not  easy 
to  determine,  by  a  transient  hearing,  what  those  powers  might  be.  The 
Trustees  were  presumed  to  be  the  principal  branch  of  authority;  and 
as  nineteen  out  of  thirty-five  were  to  be  Baptists,  the  Baptists  were  sat 
isfied,  without  sufficient  examination  into  the  authority  vested  in  the 
fellowship,  which  afterwards  appeared  to  be  the  soul  of  the  institution, 
while  the  trusteeship  was  only  the  body.  Placing,  therefore,  an  entire  con 
fidence  in  Dr.  Stiles,  they  agreed  to  join  in  a  petition  to  the  Assembly  to 
have  the  charter  confirmed  by  authority.  The  petition  was  preferred,  and 
cheerfully  received,  and  the  charter  read ;  after  which  a  vote  was  called 
for,  and  urged  by  some  to  pass  into  a  law.  But  this  was  opposed  by  others, 
particularly  by  Daniel  Jenckes,  Esq.,  member  for  Providence,  who  con 
tended  that  the  Assembly  required  more  time  to  examine  whether  it  was 
agreeable  to  the  design  of  the  first  movers  for  it,  and  therefore  prayed 
the  house  to  have  the  perusal  of  it,  while  they  adjourned  for  dinner.  This 
was  granted,  with  some  opposition.  Then  he  asked  the  Governor,  who 
was  a  Baptist,  whom  they  intended  to  invest  with  the  governing  power  in 
said  institution  ?  The  Governor  answered,  "  The  Baptists,  by  all  means." 
Then  Mr.  Jenckes  showed  him  that  the  charter  was  so  artfully  con 
structed  as  to  throw  the  power  into  the  Fellows'  hands,  whereof  eight  out 

precise,  and  explicit.    It  is,  undoubtedly,  in  many  respects,  one  of  the  best 
college  charters  in  New  England."    (See  Appendix.) 

From  Prof.  Kingsley's  statements,  it  would  appear  that  Baptists  and  Cougre- 
gatioualists  were  alike  interested  in  the  movement,  and  that  a  joint  committee 
representing  the  two  denominations  was  appointed  to  draft  the  charter.  From 
the  statements,  however,  of  Backus,  Edwards,  Manning,  and  Jenckes,  it  is  evident 
that  Baptists  alone  were  the  originators  of  the  undertaking;  that  Baptists  alone 
met  at  the  Deputy  Governor's  house  in  Newport,  in  July,  1763;  that,  of  their 
number,  Lyndon  and  Bennet  were  appointed  to  draft  a  charter  in  accordance 
with  a  plan  sketched  by  Manning;  that  these  gentlemen,  "  pleading  unskilful- 
ness,"  requested  that  Dr.  Stiles  "might  be  solicited  to  assist  them;  "  and  that 
this  was  at  first  opposed  by  Manning,  who  was  "  unwilling  to  give  the  Doctor 
trouble  about  an  affair  of  other  people." 


1738-1764.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  49 

of  twelve  were  Presbyterians,  usually  called  Congrcgationalists,  and  that 
the  other  four  might  be  of  the  same  denomination,  for  aught  that  appeared 
in  the  charter  to  the  contrary.  Convinced  of  this,  Governor  Lyndon  imme 
diately  had  an  interview  with  Dr.  Stiles,  the  Presbyterian  minister  of 
Newport,  and  demanded  why  he  had  perverted  the  design  of  the  charter. 
The  answer  was,  "  I  gave  you  timely  warning  to  take  care  of  yourselves, 
for  that  we  had  done  so  with  regard  to  our  society ;  " l  and  finally  observed, 
that  "  he  was  not  the  rogue."  When  the  Assembly  was  convened  again, 
the  said  Jenckes  moved  that  the  affair  might  be  put  off  to  the  next  ses- 

1  In  Prof.  Kingsley's  Life  of  Dr.  Stiles,  to  which  we  have  already  alluded,  we 
find  it  stated  that  the  project  of  a  college  in  Rhode  Island  had  been  the  subject 
of  serious  deliberation  a  considerable  time  before  the  charter  was  actually 
granted  by  the  Legislature,  and  that  in  this  matter  Dr.  Stiles  had  taken  a  prom 
inent  part,  collecting  statistics,  etc.  His  plan  was,  to  unite  several  denominations 
of  Christians  in  the  enterprise,  both  in  America  and  in  Great  Britain,  and  thus, 
by  proper  care,  make  the  dissenting  interest  eventually  exceed  the  Episcopal 
establishment.  The  whole  number  of  churches  of  the  Congregational,  Presby 
terian,  and  Baptist  denominations,  not  pnly  in  the  colonies,  but  in  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  he  ascertained  to  be  three  thousand  six  hundred  and  thirty-eight. 
"  He  supposed  that  all  these  churches  might  be  induced  to  contribute  to  the 
establishment  and  support  of  an  institution  which  would  so  greatly  subserve 
their  interests."  The  arrival  at  Newport  of  Mr.  Manning,  and  the  proposition 
made  by  him  for  the  establishment  of  a  Baptist  college,  interfered,  of  course, 
with  his  cherished  views  and  plans.  It  is  therefore  not  surprising  that  he  should 
have  been  unwilling  to  see  them  defeated,  without  a  struggle  on  his  part  to 
carry  them  into  effect.  We  can  understand  how  an  attempt  should  have  been 
made,  either  by  Dr.  Stiles  or  his  associates,  in  drafting  an  act  of  incoporation 
for  a  college  in  Rhode  Island,  to  pay  special  "  regard  "  to  the  interests  of  their 
own  "  society."  That  there  was  disappointment  on  both  sides,  and  at  the  time 
mutual  recriminations,  is  evident  from  the  narrative.  Under  similar  circum 
stances  there  doubtless  would  be  again,  human  nature  being  very  much  the 
same  now  as  in  the  days  of  our  ancestors.  It  is  due  to  Dr.  Stiles,  to  state  that 
he  afterwards  cherished  friendly  feelings  towards  the  institution.  Having  been 
elected  to  a  fellowship  in  the  college,  and  solicited  by  repeated  deputations 
from  the  corporation  to  accept  the  trust,  he  thus  writes  to  the  chancellor  and 
Trustees.  "  I  was  too  sincere  a  friend  to  literature  not  to  have  taken  part  in  the 
institution  at  first,  upon  my  nomination  in  the  charter,  had  I  not  been  prevented 
by  reasons  which  a  subsequent  immediate  election  could  not  remove."  One  of 
the  reasons  assigned  in  this  letter,  as  stated  by  Dr.  Manning,  in  a  letter  to  the  Rev. 
John  Ryland,  dated  May  20, 1773,  was  "  the  offence  he  should  give  his  brethren 
should  he  accept  it."  Whatever  the  reasons  were,  they  still  influenced  him  to 
decline  the  office  to  which  he  was  invited,  with  suitable  acknowledgments  of  the 
politeness  and  respect  with  which  he  was  treated  on  this  occasion.  His  letter 

5 


50  M  A  N  N I N  G    A  N  D  CHAP.  I. 

sion ;  adding,  that  the  motion  for  a  college  originated  with  the  Baptists, 
and  was  intended  for  their  use,  but  that  the  charter  in  question  was  not  at 
all  calculated  to  answer  their  purpose  ;  and  since  the  committee  intrusted 
with  this  matter  by  the  Baptists  professed  they  had  been  misled,  not  to 
say  imposed  upon,  it  was  necessary  that  the  Baptists  in  other  parts  of  the 
colony  should  be  consulted  previous  to  its  passing  into  a  law,  especially 
as  few,  if  any  of  them  except  himself,  had  seen  it ;  and  he  prayed  that  he 
might  have  a  copy  for  the  said  purpose,  which  he  promised  to  return. 
All  which  was  granted.  When  the  charter  came  to  be  narrowly  inspected, 
it  was  found  to  be  by  no  means  answerable  to  the  design  of  the  agitators 
and  the  instructions  given  the  committee.  Consequently,  application  was 
made  to  the  Philadelphia  Association,  where  the  thing  took  its  rise,  to 
have  their  mind  on  the  subject,  who  immediately  sent  two  gentlemen1 
hither  to  join  with  the  Baptists  of  this  colony  in  making  such  alterations 
and  amendments  as  were  to  them  specified  before  their  departure.  When 
they  arrived,  Dr.  Eyres2  of  Newport  was  added  to  the  committee,  and  they 

concludes  with  the  catholic  and  pious  wish  that  "  the  Father  of  lights,  from 
whom  comes  down  every  good  and  perfect  gift,  may  excite  the  public  munift" 
cence,  and  raise  up  benefactors,  through  whose  liberalities  this  institution  shall 
be  completed  with  an  ample  endowment."  (Holmes's  Life  of  President  Stiles, 
page  117.) 

1  On  the  margin  of  the  manuscript,  in  the  handwriting  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jones, 
who  was  Morgan  Edwards's  intimate  friend,  is  the  following,  namely,  "  Why 
their  names  are  not  mentioned,  I  cannot  say.    However,  there  was  no  one  sent 
but  myself,  although  Mr.  Robert  Strettle  Jones  was  so  kind  as  to  bear  me  com 
pany  to  Rhode  Island  on  the  occasion.  —  SAMUEL  JONES."    Mr.  Jones,  it  will 
be  remembered,  in  connection  with  Mr.  Edwards,  had  been  intrusted  by  the 
Association  with  the  business  in  general  of  founding  a  Baptist  college  or  univer 
sity.    He  had,  at  this  date,  but  recently  been  ordained  in  Philadelphia.    He 
was  a  young  man  of  liberal  education,  and  a  ready  and  skilful  writer;  hence 
his  special  fitness  for  the  duty  assigned  him  in  this  emergency.    The  following 
extract  from  notes  to  a  century  sermon  delivered  by  him  before  the  Philadel 
phia  Baptist  Association,  Oct.  6,  1807,  nearly  fifty  years  afterwards,  shows  the 
manner  in  which  he  performed  his  mission :    "  In  the  fall  of  1763,  the  writer  of 
these  sheets,  on  request,  repaired  to  Newport  in  Rhode  Island,  and  new-modelled 
a  rough  draught  they  had  of  a  charter  of  incorporation  for  a  college,  which 
soon  after  obtained  legislative  sanction." 

2  Thomas  Eyres,  a  physician,  the  first  secretary  of  the  corporation,  and   a 
Fellow  of  the  college  from  1764  until  his  death  in  1788.    He  was  graduated  at 
Yale  College,  in  the  Class  of  1754.    His  father,  Elder  Nicholas  Eyres,  was  pastor 
of  the  Second  Baptist  Church  in  Newport  from  1731  until  his  death,  Feb.  13, 
1759.    (See  Backus.) 


1738-1701.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  51 

happily  draughted  the  present  charter,  and  lodged  it,  with  a  new  petition, 
in  proper  hands.  The  most  material  alterations  were,  appointing  the 
same  number  of  Baptists  in  the  fellowship  that  had  been  appointed  of 
the  Presbyterians,  by  Dr.  Stiles  ;  settling  the  presidency  in  the  Baptist 
society  ;  adding  five  Baptists  to  the  Trustees,  and  putting  more  Episcopa 
lians  than  Presbyterians  in  the  corporation." 

Among  the  alterations  not  here  enumerated  by  Manning, 
were,  electing  the  President  by  the  corporation  instead 
of  exclusively  by  the  Trustees ;  providing  for  convoking 
an  assembly  of  the  corporation  on  twenty  days'  notice 
instead  of  six ;  making  five  a  quorum  of  the  Board  of 
Fellows  instead  of  eight  ;  and  striking  out  the  clause 
making  the  places  of  Trustees  or  Fellows  who  should  re 
move  out  of  the  State,  vacant.  By  confining  membership 
in  the  corporation  to  persons  residing  within  the  limits  of 
the  colony,  the  original  charter  excluded  the  originators 
and  founders  of  the  college.  Hence,  in  the  list  of  names 
proposed  by  Dr.  Stiles  to  be  incorporated,  the  following, 
which  we  find  in  the  printed  charter,  as  suggested  by  the 
committee,  are  omitted;  namely,  Rev,  Morgan  Edwards, 
Rev.  Samuel  Jones,  Rev.  James  Manning,  Rev.  Isaac  Eaton, 
Rev.  John  Gano,  Rev.  Samuel  Stillman,  Rev.  Jeremiah 
Condy,  and  Robert  Strettle  Jones,  Esq.  The  names  of 
Hezekiah  Smith,  Isaac  Backus,  William  Williams,  and 
others  from  out  of  the  State,  who  rendered  such  signal 
service  in  the  early  history  of  the  college,  would  also  have 
been  excluded  from  membership  in  the  corporation  by  the 
charter  as  originally  drafted.  (See  Appendix.) 

Mr.  Jenckes,  to  whom  Manning  refers  in  his  Narrative, 
was  a  wealthy  merchant  of  Providence,  and  an  active  mem 
ber  of  the  Baptist  church.  He  died  July  7,  1774,  in  the 
seventy-third  year  of  his  age,  having  continued,  says  the 
record,  a  church-member  forty-eight  years  "  without  cen- 


MANNING   AND  CHAP.  I. 

sure."  He  was  for  forty  years  a  member  of  the  General 
Assembly,  and  for  nearly  thirty  years  Chief  Justice  of 
the  Providence  County  Court.  His  daughter  Rhoda  was 
the  mother  of  the  Hon.  Nicholas  Brown,  from  whom  the 
University  derives  it  name,  and  also  of  the  late  Mrs.  Hope 
Ives,  after  whom  Hope  College  was  named.  Among  the 
manuscript  writings  of  Morgan  Edwards,  we  also  find,  in 
the  same  volume  from  which  Manning's  Narrative  is  taken, 
a  history  of  the  college  charter,  by  Judge  Jenckes,  which 
we  here  give,  as  follows :  — 


"While  I  attended  the  business  of  the  Assembly,  held  August,  1763, 
Capt.  William  Rogers  came  to  the  Council  Chamber  and  presented  me 
with  a  paper,  with  a  design  I  should  sign  it ;  adding,  that,  as  it  was  a  peti 
tion  for  a  Baptist  college,  he  knew  I  would  not  refuse.  Business  not 
permitting  me  to  attend  to  it  immediately,  I  requested  he  would  leave 
with  me  the  petition  and  charter.  Meanwhile,  the  sergeant  made  procla 
mation  requiring  the  members  to  take  their  seats.  In  my  seat  I  began  to 
read  the  papers,  but  had  not  done  before  the  petition  and  charter  were 
called  for,  which  I  gave  to  the  sergeant,  and  he  to  the  speaker  at  the 
board.  The  petition  being  read,  a  motion  was  made  to  receive  it,  and 
grant  the  charter.  After  some  time  I  stood  up  to  oppose,  proceeding 
immediately  on  the  petition,  giving  my  reason  in  words  to  this  effect. 
'  I  understood  that  the  college  in  question  was  sought  for  by  the  Baptists  ; 
and  that  it  was  to  be  under  their  government  and  direction,  with  the 
admission  only  of  a  few  of  other  religious  denominations  to  share  with 
them  therein,  that  they  might  appear  as  catholic  as  could  be,  consistent 
with  their  main  design  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  I  perceived  by  glancing  over 
the  charter,  while  I  sat  in  my  place  just  now,  that  the  main  power  and 
direction  is  vested  in  twelve  Fellows,  and  that. eight  out  of  the  twelve  are 
to  be  Presbyterians  ;  and  that  the  others  may  or  may  not  be  of  the  same 
denomination  ;  but  of  necessity,  none  of  them  are  to  be  Baptists.  If  so, 
there  is  treachery  somewhere,  and  a  design  of  gossly  imposing  on  the 
honest  people  who  first  moved  for  the  institution.  I  desire,  therefore,  that 


1738-1701. 


BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  53 


the  matter  may  lie  by  till  the  afternoon.'  This  was  granted.  In  the 
afternoon  the  matter  was  resumed,  with  a  seeming  resolution  in  some  to 
push  it  through  at  all  events  ;  but  I  had  influence  enough  to  stop  proceed 
ings  then  also.  That  evening  and  the  next  morning,  I  made  it  my  busi 
ness  to  see  Governor  Lyndon  and  Col.  Bonnet,  and  to  inform  them  of  the 
construction  of  the  charter.  They  could  not  believe  me,  for  the  confidence 
they  had  in  Dr.  Stiles's  honor  and  integrity,  until  seeing  convinced  them ; 
what  reflections  followed  may  be  better  concealed  than  published.  How 
ever,  we  all  agreed  to  postpone  passing  the  charter  into  a  law,  and  did 
effect  our  purpose  for  that  session,  notwithstanding  the  attempts  of  Mr. 
Ellcry  and  others  of  the  Presbyterians  to  the  contrary.  Before  the  break 
ing  up  of  the  Assembly,  the  house,  at  my  request,  directed  the  speaker  to 
deliver  the  charter  to  me,  after  I  had  made  a  promise  it  should  be  forth 
coming  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Assembly. 

I  took  the  charter  to  Providence,  and  showed  it  to  many  who  came  to 
my  house ;  others  borrowed  it  to  peruse  at  home.  Meanwhile,  the  messen 
gers  from  the  Philadelphia  Association  arrived  in  Newport,  which  occa 
sioned  the  committee  of  Newport  te  send  to  me  for  the  charter.  I  asked 
for  it  of  Dr.  Ephraim  Bowen,  who  had  borrowed  it  last.  The  Doctor  said 
he  lent  it  to  Samuel  Nightingale,  Esq.  Search  was  made  for  it  there,  but 
it  could  not  be  found  ;  neither  do  I  know  to  this  clay  what  became  of  it.1 
When  the  next  General  Assembly  met  (last  Wednesday  in  October,  1763), 
the  second  charter  was  presented ;  which  was  much  faulted,  and  opposed 
by  the  gentry  who  concerned  themselves  so  warmly  about  the  other.  And 
one  in  particular  demanded  that  the  first  charter,  which  had  been  in 
trusted  to  me,  might  be  produced.  Then  I  related,  as  above,  that  it  was 
lost,  and  the  manner  how  it  was  lost ;  but  the  party,  instead  of  believing 
this,  very  rudely  suggested  that  I  had  secreted  the  charter,  and  in  the 

i  This  important  document,  which  was  lost  for  nearly  a  century,  has  re 
cently  been  placed  among  the  archives  of  the  University.  It  was  found,  some 
twenty  years  since,  among  the  files  and  papers  of  the  church  over  which  Dr. 
Stiles  presided.  It  is  in  the  handwriting  of  the  author,  and  was  evidently  copied 
from  the  "  rough  draft "  with  great  care.  A  careful  comparison  of  this  docu 
ment  with  the  charter  which  was  finally  granted  by  the  General  Assembly,  fully 
confirms  all  the  statements  in  reference  thereto  made  by  Manning  and  Jenckes. 
It  shows  also  how  much  the  University  is  indebted  to  Dr.  Stiles  for  the  phrase 
ology  of  the  instrument  that  gave  it  an  existence,  and  for  the  fulness  and  pre 
cision  with  which  all  its  privileges  are  granted  and  its  provisions  stated.  The 
document  is  published  in  the  Appendix,  with  the  changes  made  by  the  commit 
tee  or  "  messengers." 


54  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  I. 

face  of  the  court  charged  me  with  a  breach  of  trust ;  which  brought  on 
very  disagreeable  altercations  and  bickerings,  until,  at  last,  I  was  necessi 
tated  to  say,  that  '  if  there  had  been  any  foul  doings,  it  was  amongst 
them  of  their  own  denomination  at  Providence.'  Their  clamors  contin 
ued  ;  and  we  gave  way  to  them  that  session  for  peace  sake.  Meanwhile, 
Dr.  Bowcn,  who  is  a  man  of  strict  honor  and  integrity,  used  all  means  to 
recover  the  former  charter,  posting  an  advertisement  in  the  most  public 
places  in  town,  and  making  diligent  inquiry  ;  but  to  no  purpose.  At  the 
next  Assembly,  which  met  in  February,  1764,  the  new  charter  was  again 
brought  on  the  carpet ;  and  the  same  clamor  against  it,  and  unjust  re 
proaches  against  me,  were  repeated.  It  was  said  that  the  new  charter  was 
not  like  the  old,  and  was  constructed  to  deprive  the  Presbyterians  of  the 
benefit  of  the  institution.  To  which  it  was  replied,  '  that  it  was  agreeable 
to  the  designs  of  the  first  undertakers,  and  if  calculated  to  deprive  the 
Presbyterians  of  the  power  they  wanted,  it  was  no  more  than  what  they 
themselves  had  attempted  to  do  to  the  Baptists.'  After  much  and  warm 
debate,  the  question  was  put  and  carried  in  favor  of  the  new  charter,  by  a 
great  majority." 

From  the  foregoing  accounts,  or  narratives,  it  appears, 
(1)  That  President  Manning  drew  up  a  plan  of  the  college, 
and  presented  it  to  a  company  of  Baptist  gentlemen,  at 
Newport,  in  the  month  of  July,  1763.  (2)  That  the  Hon. 
Josias  Lyndon  and  Colonel  Job  Bennet  were  appointed 
to  draw  a  charter,  in  accordance  with  said  plan,  to  be 
laid  before  the  next  General  Assembly,  with  a  petition 
that  it  might  be  made  a  law.  (3)  That  the  assistance  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Stiles,  afterwards  President  of  Yale  College, 
was  solicited  and  obtained.  (4)  That  the  drafting  of  the 
charter  was  left  entirely  to  Dr.  Stiles  ;  and  that  lie,  in  turn, 
was  assisted  by  the  Hon.  William  Ellery.  (5)  That  the 
charter  was  accordingly  drawn,  and  a  time  and  place  were 
appointed  for  the  parties  concerned  to  meet  and  hear  it 
read.  (6)  That  Manning,  being  obliged  to  leave  on  that 
day  for  Halifax,  was  unable  to  be  with  the  committee  long 
enough  to  see  whether  the  original  design  was  secured, 


1738-1701.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY. 


55 


and  that  the   Baptists,  being  satisfied,  without  sufficient 
examination  into  the  authority  vested  in  the  fellowship, 
and  reposing  entire  confidence  in  Dr.  Stiles,  agreed  to  join 
in  a  petition  to  the  General  Assembly  to  have  the  charter 
confirmed  by  authority.     (7)  That  the  petition  and  charter 
were  accordingly  presented  to  the  General  Assembly  in 
August,  1763,  but  that  action  thereon  was  postponed  until 
the  next  session,  through  the  influence  of  the  Hon.  Daniel 
Jenckes,the  attempts  of  Mr.  Ellery  and  others  of  the  Pres 
byterians  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.     (8)  That  the 
charter  was  found  on  inspection  to  be  so  drawn  as  to  vest 
the  main  power  and  direction  of  the  institution  in  a  board 
of  twelve  Fellows,  eight  of  whom  were  to  be  Presbyte 
rians,  and  the  other  four  of  the  same  denomination,  for 
aught  that  appeared  to  the  contrary  ;  and  that  in  general 
it  did  not  answer  to  the  original  design.     (9)  That  in  this 
emergency   application   was   made   to    the    Philadelphia 
Association,  "  where  the  thing  took  its  rise,"  to  have  their 
mind  on  the  subject.     (10)  That  they  immediately  sent  to 
Newport  the  Rev.  Samuel  Jones,  who  was  accompanied 
by  Robert  Strettle  Jones,  and  that  when  they  arrived,  Dr. 
Eyres,  of  Newport,  was  added  to  the  committee.  (11)  That, 
meanwhile,  the  original  copy  of  the  charter,  presented  to 
the  General  Assembly  in  August,  which  had  been  intrusted 
by  that  body  to  Mr.  Jenckes,  had  been  lost.     (12)  That 
the  committee  found  at  Newport  a  rough  draft  of  a  char 
ter,  which  they  happily  remodelled,  and   that   the   most 
material  alterations  were,  appointing  the  same  number  of 
Baptists  in  the  fellowship  that  had  been  appointed  of  the 
Presbyterians  by  Dr.  Stiles;  settling   the   presidency  in 
the   Baptist  society;    adding  five  Baptists   to  the  Trus 
tees;    putting  more  Episcopalians  than  Presbyterians  in 
the  corporation ;    and  extending  the  membership  of  the 


^°  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  I. 

corporation  to  persons  residing  out  of  the  colony  or  state. 
From  all  this  it  is  evident  that  the  "rough  draft"  which 
the  last  committee  remodelled  was  the  one  originally 
drawn  by  Dr.  Stiles,  and  presented  to  the  first  committee 
in  July,  and  from  which  a  copy  was  undoubtedly  made 
for  the  General  Assembly.  This  copy,  as  we  have  already 
remarked,  has  recently  been  found  among  the  archives  of 
Dr.  Stiles's  church,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the 
University. 

That  the  college  owes  its  origin  to  the  efforts  of  men 
who  were  members  of  the  Philadelphia  Association,  is  ev 
ident  from  its  history  thus  far.  The  following  extracts 
from  the  minutes  of  this  venerable  body  show  the  interest 
which  it  continued  to  manifest  in  the  welfare  and  prog 
ress  of  an  institution  which  it  had  aided  in  bringing  into 
being :  — 

1764.  "Agreed,  to  inform  the  churches  to  which  we  respectively  belong, 
that,  inasmuch  as  a  charter  is  obtained  in  Rhode  Island  Government 
towards  erecting  a  Baptist  college,  the  churches  should  be  liberal  in  con 
tributing  towards  carrying  the  same  into  execution."  1766.  "  Agreed,  to 
recommend  warmly  to  our  churches  the  interest  of  the  college,  for  which 
a  subscription  is  opened  all  over  the  continent.  This  college  hath  been 
set  on  foot  upwards  of  a  year,  and  has  now  in  it  three  promising  youths 
under  the  tuition  of  President  Manning."  1767.  "  Agreed,  that  Rev.  Isaac 
Eaton,  and  John  Hart,  Esq.,  executors  of  Mrs.  Hubs's  will,  be  allowed 
to  pay  £14  towards  the  education  of  Charles  Thompson  (student  in  Rhode 
Island  College)  out  of  the  interest  of  the  legacy  left  by  said  Mrs.  Hubs 
for  the  use  of  the  Association  in  Philadelphia."  "Agreed,  that  the 
churches  be  requested  to  forward  the  subscription  for  Rhode  Island  Col 
lege."  1769.  "  We  received  pleasing  accounts  from  Rhode  Island  College. 
Seven  commenced  this  fall.  The  colony  has  raised  £1200  towards  the 
building,  which  will  be  begun  early  in  the  spring.  About  £1000,  lawful 
currency  of  New  England,  have  been  sent  us  from  home  (Great  Britain) 
towards  making  up  a  salary  for  the  President ;  and  all  the  ministers  of 
this  Association  have  explicitly  engaged  to  exert  themselves  in  endeavor- 


1738-1764.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  57 

ing  to  raise  money  for  the  same  purpose."  "  Resolved,  That  the  moneys 
which  may  be  raised  in  the  provinces  of  New  York,  New  Jersey,  and 
Pennsylvania,  shall  be  put  to  interest,  in  those  provinces,  and  not  be  taken 
out  of  either ;  except  the  interest  which  shall  be  subject  to  the  order  of 
the  college  to  pay  the  President's  salary,  and  for  no  other  use.  The  per 
sons  appointed  for  receiving  the  donations  are :  In  New  York,  the  Rev. 
John  Gano  ;  in  the  Jerseys,  John  Stites,  Esq. ;  in  Pennsylvania,  the 
Rev.  Morgan  Edwards.  They  are  to  see  that  the  securities  be  sufficient, 
and  that  the  bonds,  mortgages,  etc.,  be  deposited  with  the  treasurer  of  the 
college."  "  Voted,  That  £14,  Jersey  currency,  be  given  Mr.  Thomas 
Eustick.  towards  defraying  his  expenses  at  the  college,"  etc. 

1774.  "The  minutes  and  letters  from  Charleston  Association,  South 
Carolina,  were  read.  The  plan  adopted  by  them  respecting  Rhode  Isl 
and  College,  recommended  to  us."  "  Agreed,  to  recommend  the  same 
to  the  churches  we  stand  respectively  related  unto  ;  and  that  our  brethren 
John  Gano  and  William  Rogers  receive  the  moneys  so  raised,  and  remit 
the  same  to  Colonel  Job  Bonnet,  treasurer."  "  The  money  raised  for  in 
creasing  the  fund  of  Rhode  Island,  College  is  as  follows  :  The  church 
at  New  York  raised  above  what  was  proposed  by  the  plan  adopted; 
church  of  Cohansie,  15s. ;  church  at  Salem,  4s.  6d. ;  Hugh  Glassford,  7s. ; 
Andrew  Bray,  5s.  The  last  four  sums  above  mentioned  were  received  by 
Brother  William  Rogers." 

1782.  "  Voted,  That  the  seventh  article  of  the  Warren  Association 
Minutes  be  adopted  by  us,  which  is  as  follows  :  "  The  Association,  from  a 
representation  made  to  them  by  the  corporation  of  the  college  in  Provi 
dence  of  the  low  state  of  the  funds  of  said  college,  and  the  urgent  neces 
sity  of  increasing  them,  in  order  to  support  suitable  instructors  therein, 
and  from  an  idea  of  the  great  importance  of  good  education,  have  taken 
into  consideration,  as  the  most  probable  method  to  accomplish  this  valu 
able  end,  the  recommendation  of  a  subscription  throughout  all  the  Bap 
tist  societies  on  this  continent,  as  well  as  to  all  the  friends  of  literature  of 
every  denomination,  on  the  following  conditions  :  — 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  promise  and  engage  to  pay  the  several  sums 

affixed  to  our  names,  to ,  to  be  by  him  paid  to  John  Brown,  Esq.,  of 

Providence,  treasurer  of  the  corporation,  or  his  successor  in  said  office,  or 
order,  to  be  placed  at  interest,  and  the  interest  only  to  be  applied  for  the 
above  purpose. 

"N.  B.  The  several  churches  are  desired  to  insert  in  the  above  blank 
the  name  of  the  most  suitable  person  in  the  society  for  this  service." 


58  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  I. 

The  plan  proposed  by  the  Association  in  Charleston, 
S.  C.,  for  raising  a  fund  for  Rhode  Island  College,  and 
adopted  by  the  Philadelphia  Association  in  1774,  as  we 
learn  from  the  foregoing  extracts,  and  also  during  the 
same  year  by  the  Warren  Association,  was,  in  the  language 
of  the  record,  the  "  recommending  to  every  member  to  pay 
sixpence  sterling,  annually,  for  three  years  successively, 
to  their  elder,  or  some  suitable  person :  this  money  to  be 
paid  to  the  treasurer  of  the  college."  At  the  same  time, 
the  Rev.  Messrs.  John  Gano,  Oliver  Hart,  and  Francis 
Pelot  were  appointed,  says  Benedict,  to  address  the  Bap 
tist  associations  throughout  America,  and  urge  their  co 
operation  in  these  efforts  to  raise  funds  for  the  college. 
In  reading  this  record,  we  are  amused  at  the  gravity  with 
which  a  body  of  men  recommended  the  payment  of  so 
small  a  sum  as  sixpence,  or  twelve  and  one  half  cents, 
towards  endowing  an  institution  of  learning,  especially 
when  we  contrast  this  with  the  princely  benefactions  of 
later  days.  But  further  reflection  soon  changes  any  dis 
position  of  this  kind  into  a  feeling  of  respect,  and  even  of 
admiration.  The  Baptists  of  that  early  period  were,  as  a 
people,  poor,  and,  as  Dr.  Manning  in  one  of  his  letters 
adds,  "  despised  and  oppressed."  The  gifts  and  offerings 
which  they  thus  contributed  for  the  college  were  from  the 
"res  angusta  domi"  from  "  pious  enlightened  penury,"  to 
the  noblest  of  all  causes,  the  advancement  of  human  learn 
ing.  All  honor  for  the  zeal  and  perseverance,  the  sacri 
fices  and  the  prayers,  of  these  early  friends  of  the  college! 
Were  their  spirit  emulated  by  their  descendants,  how 
soon  would  the  resources  of  our  public  institutions  be 
augmented,  and  their  means  of  influence  largely  increased  ! 

But  to  return.  The  charter  finally  granted  by  the  Gen 
eral  Assembly,  out  of  which,  says  Mr.  Edwards,  "the 


1738-1764.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


59 


Baptists  narrowly  escaped  being  jockied  by  a  set  of  men 
in  whom  they  reposed  full  confidence,"  is  now,  and  must 
forever  continue  to  be,  the  unalterable  constitution  of  the 
college  or  university.  xBy  it  the  corporation  is  made  to 
consist  of  two  branches;  namely,  that  of  the  Trustees  and 
that  of  the  Fellows,  with  distinct,  separate,  and  respective 
powers.  The  Trustees  are  thirty-six  in  number,  of  whom 
twenty-two  are  forever  to  be  elected  of  the  denomination 
called  Baptists  or  Antipaedobaptists,  five  of  the  denomina 
tion  called  Friends  or  Quakers,  five  of  the  denomination 
called  Episcopalians,  and  four  of  the  denomination  called 
Congregation alists.  These  were  the  denominations  of  New 
England  a  century  ago.  The  number  of  the  Fellows,  in 
cluding  the  President,  who  must  always  be  a  Fellow,  is 
twelve,  of  whom  eight  are  forever  to  be  elected  of  the 
denomination  called  Baptists,  and  the  rest  indifferently  of 
any  or  all  denominations.  The  President  must  forever  be 
a  Baptist.  Once  in  three  years  the  corporation,  at  its 
annual  meetings,  must  choose  from  among  the  Trustees  a 
chancellor  of  the  university,  and  a  treasurer;  and  from 
among  the  Fellows,  a  secretary.  The  office  of  the  chancel 
lor  is  merely  to  preside  as  moderator  of  the  Trustees ;  the 
President,  or,  in  his  absence,  the  senior  Fellow,  being  the 
moderator  of  the  Fellows.  The  instruction  and  immediate 
government  of  the  college  is,  and  must  forever  continue  to 
rest  in  the  President  and  Fellows,  or  fellowship,  to  whom, 
as  a  "learned  faculty,"  belongs  exclusively  the  privilege 
of  adjudging  and  conferring  the  academical  degrees. 

This  charter,  although  it  secures  to  the  Baptists,  as  al 
ready  stated,  the  control  of  the  college,  recognizes  repeat 
edly,  and  in  most  unequivocal  terms,  the  grand  principles 
of  religious  freedom,  for  which  the  descendants  of  Roger 
Williams,  and  all  true  Baptists  of  every  ago,  have  always 


CO  M  A  X  X  I  X  G    A  X  D  CHAP.  I. 

resolutely  contended.     Some   of  its  provisions  are  as  fol 
lows  :  — 

And,  furthermore,  it  is  hereby  enacted  and  declared,  That  into  this  lib 
eral  and  catholic  institution  shall  never  be  admitted  any  religious  tests  ; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  all  the  members  hereof  shall  forever  enjoy  full,  free, 
absolute,  and  uninterrupted  liberty  of  conscience:  And  that  the  places  of 
professors,  tutors,  and  all  other  officers,  the  President  alone  excepted, 
shall  be  free  and  open  for  all  denominations  of  Protestants  :  And  that  youth 
of  all  religious  denominations  shall  and  may  be  freely  admitted  to  the  equal 
advantages,  emoluments,  and  honor  of  the  college  or  university,  and  shall 
receive  a  like  fair,  generous,  and  equal  treatment  during  their  residence 
therein — thcv  conducting  themselves  peaceably,  and  conforming  to  the 
laws  and  statutes  thereof :  And  that  the  public  teaching  shall,  in  general, 
respect  the  sciences  :  And  that  the  sectarian  differences  of  opinions  shall 
not  make  any  part  of  the  public  and  classical  instruction  ;  although  all 
religious  controversies  may  be  studied  freely,  examined,  and  explained  by 
the  President,  professors,  and  tutors,  in  a  personal,  separate,  and  distinct 
manner,  to  the  youth  of  any  or  each  denomination :  And,  above  all,  a 
constant  regard  shall  be  paid  to,  and  effectual  care  taken  of,  the  morals 
of  the  college. 

The  statutes  of  the  college  have  been  framed  from  time 
to  time  in  accordance  with  the  spirit  of  this  charter.  So 
long  ago  as  1783,  those  students  who  regularly  observed 
the  seventh  day  as  the  Sabbath,  were  exempted  from  the 
operation  of  the  law  which  required  every  student,  as  a 
moral  duty,  to  attend  public  worship  on  the  first  day  of 
the  week.  Those  who  statedly  attended  the  Friends' 
meeting  were  expressly  "  permitted  to  wear  their  hats 
within  the  college  walls,"  etc.,  and  "  young  gentlemen 
of  the  Hebrew  persuasion  "  were  formally  exempted  from 
the  operation  of  the  law  which  commanded,  on  penalty  of 
expulsion,  that  no  student  should  deny  the  divine  author 
ity  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  And  yet  more,  —  in 


173S-17C1. 


BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  61 


1770,  the  corporation  of  the  college  declared,  as  appears 
from  the  records,  that  "  the  children  of  Jews  may  be  ad 
mitted  into  this  institution,  and  entirely  enjoy  the  free 
dom  of  their  own  religion,  without  any  constraint  or  impo 
sition  whatever."  These  provisions  of  the  charter,  and  of 
the  statutes  of  the  college,  manifest,  says  a  distinguished 
writer,  a  "  delicate  regard  for  the  rights  of  conscience,  for 
which,  it  is  believed,  hardly  a  parallel  can  be  found  in  the 
history  of  similar  institutions." 

And  to  "  this  liberal  and  catholic  institution"  the  youth 
of  all  religious  denominations  have  freely  resorted,  during 
the  first  century  of  its  existence,  for  their  education.  Not 
a  few  of  the  prominent  religious  teachers  and  theologians 
connected  with  our  various  Christian  sects  or  societies, 
throughout  the  land,  received  their  permanent  serious  im 
pressions  during  the  revivals  with  which  the  college  or 
university  has,  from  its  beginning,  been  graciously  visited. 

We  close  this  chapter  with  the  following  extract  from 
Backus's  Church  History  of  New  England.  Were  the 
work  generally  accessible  to  the  reading  public,  a  mere 
reference  might  answer  our  purpose ;  which  is,  to  remove, 
as  far  as  possible,  all  doubts  in  regard  to  the  origin  of  this 
venerable  seat  of  learning.  It  is,  as  will  be  seen,  a  brief 
recapitulation  of  the  leading  facts  in  the  early  history  of 
the  college,  and  serves  to  establish  and  confirm  the  state 
ments  already  presented.  The  accuracy  of  Backus  as  an 
historian  has  never,  we  believe,  been  questioned.  Ban 
croft  awards  to  him  the  highest  praise.  Being  in  the 
prime  and  vigor  of  life  when  the  college  was  established, 
and  one  of  the  first  Trustees,  he  was,  of  course,  familiar  with 
all  the  facts  pertaining  to  its  origin  and  early  progress. 
6 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  I. 


EXTRACT   FROM    BACKUS. 

"  The  uppermost  party  among  Christians  have  ever  had  the  command 
of  all  colleges,  to  educate  religious  teachers,  as  well  as  other  men  of  supe 
rior  learning,  until  very  lately.  Even  in  1780,  no  ministers  but  Congrega 
tional  ministers  were  allowed  to  be  Overseers  of  the  University  at  Cam 
bridge,  by  the  Massachusetts  constitution  of  government.  And  great 
sums  have  been  given  to  that  University  by  the  government,  from  time  to 
time,  ever  since  it  began  in  1638.  But  as  Providence  and  Rhode  Island 
Colony  was  planted  by  men  who  were  banished  from  the  Massachusetts, 
because  they  conscientiously  dissented  from  the  use  of  force  in  religious 
affairs,  and  that  colony  suffered  amazingly  from  neighbor  colonies  for 
more  than  an  hundred  years,  the  people  have  grown  up  with  great  preju 
dices  against  colleges,  and  against  obeying  the  laws  of  Christ  for  the  sup 
port  of  his  ministers.  Bat  as  a  minister  hath  died  this  year  (Dr.  Man 
ning)  who  has  done  much  towards  removing  those  prejudices,  I  shall  give 
a  concise  account  of  the  affair.  Mr.  Isaac  Eaton,  who  was  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  Church  at  Hopewell  in  New  Jersey  from  1748  to  1772,  set  up  a 
school  for  the  education  of  youth  for  the  ministry,  as  well  as  for  other 
callings,  in  1756,  and  kept  it  for  eleven  years.  One  of  his  scholars  was  Mr. 
James  Manning,  who  went  from  his  school  to  the  college  at  Princeton, 
where  he  took  his  first  degree  in  September,  1762.  And  as  the  Philadel 
phia  Association  were  for  erecting  a  college  in  Khode  Island  Government, 
they  fixed  their  eyes  upon  him  as  a  proper  leader  in  the  affair.  He  there 
fore  called  in  at  Newport,  on  his  voyage  to  Halifax,  in  July,  1763,  and 
proposed  the  matter  to  a  number  of  Baptist  gentlemen,  who  readily  con 
curred  therewith  ;  and  as  they  had  a  high  opinion  of  a  learned  Congrega 
tional  minister  among  them,  they  desired  him  to  make  a  draught  of  a 
charter  for  a  college  in  that  Government.  It  was  proposed  to  take  in  some 
members  of  the  several  denominations  among  them,  but  that  the  Baptists 
should  always  be  the  majority  of  the  corporation.  He  drew  a  charter, 
which  appeared  to  be  upon  this  plan,  and  it  was  introduced  into  their  leg 
islature  ;  but  a  Baptist  gentleman  discerned  that  there  was  a  door  left 
open  for  the  Congregational  denomination  to  become  the  majority  here 
after.  Therefore  the  charter  was  not  then  passed  into  a  law ;  and  when 
their  legislature  met  again,  the  charter  was  not  to  be  found.  When  this 
was  heard  of  at  Philadelphia,  two  gentlemen  were  sent  from  thence,  who 
assisted  in  drawing  a  new  charter,  which  was  established  by  the  legisla 
ture  of  Rhode  Island,  in  February,  1764." 


CHAPTER     II. 

1704-1769. 

First  Meeting  of  the  Corporation,  at  Newport—  Character  of  the  twenty-four 
members  present,  representing  the  four  religious  denominations  recognized 
in  the  Charter  —  Manning  removes  with  his  family  to  Warren  —  Begins  a 
Latin  School,  now  the  "  University  Grammar  School  "—  Employs  a  part  of  his 
time  in  preaching  —  Formation  of  the  Warren  Baptist  Church  —  Appointed 
President  of  the  College  —Extract  from  a  Letter  of  Rev.  Isaac  Backus  to  Dr. 
Gill  of  London  — Suggests  the  formation  of  the  Warren  Association  —  Diffi 
culties  to  be  overcome  —  First  Meeting  of  the  Association,  in  17G7—  Letter 
from  the  Philadelphia  Association  *-  Second  and  third  Meetings  —  Sentiments 
and  Plan  of  the  Warren  Association  as  drawn  up  by  Manning  — Plan  to  col 
lect  grievances  — Character  and  influence  of  the  Association  —  Manning's 
prominence  and  usefulness  as  a  member  of  the  two  Associations  —  Circular 
Letter  by  Manning  —  Letter  to  Hon.  David  Howell  —  Howell  appointed  Tutor 
of  the  College —Sketch  of  his  Character  — First  Commencement  of  the  Col 
lege—Account  from  the  Providence  Gazette  —  Eev.  Morgan  Edwards's  efforts 
in  England  and  Ireland  to  secure  funds  for  the  College  —  Biographical  Sketches 
of  members  of  the  first  Graduating  Class:  Eev.  Dr.  William  Rogers,  Hon- 
James  Mitchell  Varnum,  Kev.  Charles  Thompson,  Rev.  William  Williams. 

THE  first  meeting  of  the  "Corporation  for  founding  and 
endowing  a  College  or  University  within  the  Colony  of 
Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations  in  New  England 
in  America,"  was  held  at  Newport,  on  the  first  Wednes 
day  in  September,  1764.  From  this  point,  therefore,  the 
commencement  of  the  college  properly  dates.  At  this 
meeting  the  following  gentlemen,  twenty-four  in  number, 
as  appears  from  the  records,  were  present,  and  qualified 
themselves  by  taking  the  oath  prescribed  by  the  charter  ; 
namely,  Hon.  Stephen  Hopkins,  Hon.  Joseph  Wanton, 
Hon.  Samuel  Ward,  John  Tillinghast,  Simon  Pease,  James 


6  4  M  A  N  N  I N  G    AND  CHAP.  II. 

Honeyman,  Nicholas  Enston,  Nicholas  Tillinghast,  Daniel 
Jenckes,  Nicholas  Brown,  Joshua  Babcock,  John  G.  Wan 
ton,  Rev.  Edward  Upharn,  Rev.  Jeremiah  Condy,  Rev. 
Gardner  Thurston,  Rev.  John  Maxson,  Rev.  Samuel  Win- 
sor,  Rev.  James  Manning,  Josias  Lyndon,  Job  Bennet,  Jr., 
Ephraim  Bowen,  Edward  Thurston,  Jr.,  Thomas  Eyres, 
and  Peleg  Barker.  The  Hon.  Stephen  Hopkins,  Esq.,  was 
chosen  chancellor,  John  Tillinghast,  Esq.,  treasurer,  and 
Dr.  Thomas  Eyres,  secretary.  The  form  of  a  certificate, 
authorizing  persons  to  receive  donations  for  the  college,  was 
adopted,  and  also  the  form  of  a  receipt  therefor.  A  "  Pre 
amble  "  was  adopted,  setting  forth  the  nature  and  design 
of  the  institution,  and  its  need  of  funds.  Committees  to  re 
ceive  subscriptions  for  the  college  were  appointed  through 
out  Rhode  Island,  in  the  southern  and  western  parts  of  the 
continent,  and  in  the  States  of  Massachusetts  and  Con 
necticut.  Committees  were  also  appointed  to  provide  a 
seal  for  the  use  of  the  corporation,  and  to  assist  in  digest 
ing  and  recording  the  proceedings  of  the  meeting. 

It  is  interesting,  in  this  connection,  to  observe  the  char 
acter  of  the  men,  who,  a  century  ago,  met  for  the  first 
time,  as  a  corporate  body,  to  transact  business  for  the  col 
lege.  Of  the  four  religious  denominations  recognized  in 
the  charter,  the  Congregationalists  were  represented  by 
Dr.  Ephraim  Bowen,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  physi 
cians  in  Providence  previous  to  the  Revolutionary  War. 
To  him,  Lieut.  Gov.  Arnold,  in  his  History  of  Rhode  Island, 
ascribes  the  peculiar  honor  of  originating  a  patriotic  order, 
composed  of  the  gentler  sex,  known  as  the  "Daughters  of 
Liberty."  The  Episcopalians  were  represented  by  Gov 
ernor  Joseph  Wanton  and  Hon.  James  Honeyman,  both 
residents  of  Newport,  and  gentlemen  of  culture,  wealth, 
and  high  social  position.  The  former  was  first  elected 


1704-1769. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  G5 


Governor  in  the  year  1769.     He  continued  to  fill  the  office 
from  year  to  year,  with  great  acceptance,  until  1775,  when 
he  was  suspended  by  the  General  Assembly  for  disloyalty. 
Mr.  Honeyman  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  James  Honeyman, 
Rector  of  Trinity   Church,  Newport.     He   was  an    able 
lawyer  and  a  prominent  politician,  filling  many  high  offices 
in  the  State.     For  many  years  he  was  Advocate  General 
of  the  Court  of  Vice  Admiralty  for  the  colony,  having  been 
appointed  to  this  office  by  the  British  Government.     The 
Quakers  or  Friends  were  represented  by  the  Hon.  Stephen 
Hopkins,  John  G.  Wanton,  Edward  Thurston,  and  Nicho 
las  Easton.     No  name  is  more  prominent  in  the  history 
of  this  period  than  that  of  Hopkins,  and  few  men  of  any 
period  have  exerted  so  wide  an  influence  upon  the  desti 
nies  of  the  country.     For  nearly  forty-five  years,  as  chief 
justice,  governor,  member  of  Congress,  legislator,  or  repre 
sentative,  he  was  engaged  in  some  kind  of  official  duty 
connected  with  the  town,  the  State,  or  the  national  Con 
gress.     His  name  appears  among  the  signers  of  the  Decla 
ration  of  Independence.     The  office  of  chancellor  of  the 
corporation,  to  which  he  was  elected  at  this  first  meeting, 
he  held  until  his  death,  in  1785,  a  period  of  twenty-one 
years.     He  was  a  warm  personal  friend  of  President  Man 
ning,  and,  by  his  extensive  learning  and  genuine  love  of 
literature,  proved  a  most  efficient  coadjutor  in  all  the  plans 
and  efforts  of  the  latter  for  the  efficiency  and  usefulness  of 
the  college.     Mr.  Wanton  was  an  opulent   merchant  of 
Newport,  and  was  allied  by  blood  and  affinity  with  the 
wealthiest  and  most  popular  families  in  the  colony.     The 
name  of  Nicholas  Easton  appears  in  Arnold's  History  of 
Rhode  Island,  as  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  from 
Middletown,  in   the  year  1776.     He  was  probably  a  de 
scendant  of  Governors  Nicholas  and  John  Easton.     Of 
6* 


66  MANNING  AND  CHAP.  II. 

Thurston  we  have  been  unable  to  ascertain  anything  defi 
nite.  He  was  a  trustee,  as  appears  from  the  Triennial 
Catalogue,  until  the  year  1782.  The  remaining  seventeen 
members  of  the  corporation  were  Baptists,  or,  as  they  are 
also  designated  in  the  charter,  Antipaedobaptists.  They 
were  mostly  from  the  towns  of  Providence,  Newport, 
Warren,  Westerly,  and  Boston.  Among  them  we  notice 
Samuel  Ward,  the  popular  Governor  of  Rhode  Island 
during  the  years  1762,  1765,  and  1766,  a  Justice  also  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  and  one  of  the  most  influential  mem 
bers  of  the  First  Congress,  in  1774  (his  Life,  written  by 
Prof.  Gammell,  is  published  in  Spark's  American  Biog 
raphy)  ;  Judge  Daniel  Jenckes,  a  brief  sketch  of  whom 
has  already  been  given  in  connection  with  the  history  of 
the  college  charter  ;  Josias  Lyndon,  who,  in^  1768,  was 
elected  Governor,  by  an  overwhelming  majority  of  nearly 
fifteen  hundred  ;  Nicholas  Brown,  the  distinguished  mer 
chant  and  liberal  benefactor  of  the  college,  and  also  father  of 
the  Hon.  Nicholas  Brown,  after  whom  the  institution  was 
finally  named ;  Rev.  Edward  Upham,  pastor  of  the  First 
Church  at  Newport,  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College, 
in  the  class  of  1734 ;  Rev.  Gardner  Thurston,  an  intimate 
friend  and  associate  of  Dr.  Stiles ;  Rev.  Jeremiah  Condy, 
of  Boston,  also  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  in  the 
class  of  1721 ;  Dr.  Joshua  Babcock,  of  Westerly,  who,  in 
1775,  was  appointed  a  major-general  of  the  Rhode  Island 
militia,  and  who  also  held  various  public  offices  of  respon 
sibility  and  trust ;  and  Dr.  Thomas  Eyres,  of  Newport,  who 
held  the  office  of  secretary  of  the  corporation  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary  War. 

In  the  records  of  subsequent  meetings  of  the  corporation, 
previous  to  the  removal  of  the  college  to  Providence,  we 
find  among  the  Baptist  members  the  names  also  of  Rev. 


1764-1769.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


67 


Morgan  Edwards  of  Philadelphia,  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith 
of  Haverhill,  Rev.  Samuel  Stillman  of  Boston,  Rev.  John 
Gano  of  New  York,  Rev.  Isaac  Backus  of  Middleborough, 
Rev.  John  Davis  of  Boston,  Rev.  Russell  Mason  of  Swanzey, 
Nathan  Spear  of  Boston,  Sylvester  Child  of  Warren,  and 
Joseph,  brother  of  Nicholas  Brown,  of  Providence.  Among 
the  Episcopal  members  we  find  the  names  of  Rev.  George 
Bisset  of  Newport,  Joseph  Russell  and  George  Hazard 
Esquires.  The  last  named  was  mayor  of  Newport,  and  for 
upwards  of  thirty  years  was  a  member  of  the  State  Legisla 
ture.  Among  the  Quakers,  Jonathan  Easton,  a  physician. 
Among  the  Congregationalists,  Nicholas  Cook,  for  several 
years  Governor  of  the  colony,  and  Jabez  Bowen,  LL.D., 
Deputy  Governor.  The  latter  succeeded  Gov.  Hopkins 
as  chancellor  of  the  college. , 

During  the  spring  previous  to  this  first  meeting  of  the 
corporation,  Manning  had  removed  with  his  family  to 
Warren,  a  pleasant  town  in  Bristol  County,  R.  I.,  about 
ten  miles  from  Providence.  Here  he  at  once  opened  a 
Latin  school,  with  an  ultimate  view  to  the  commencement 
of  college  instruction.  This  school,  which  soon  became 
flourishing,  he  continued  to  teach  or  superintend  for  many 
years,  in  connection  with  his  professional  duties  and  call- 
ino-.  It  was  removed  to  Providence  in  1770,  and,  upon 

O 

the  completion  of  "University  Hall,"  to  rooms  in  that 
building.  In  1810,  a  brick  house  for  its  accommodation 
was  erected  by  the  friends  of  the  college,  under  the  direc 
tion  of  a  committee  of  the  corporation,  consisting  of 
Thomas  P.  Ives,  Moses  Lippitt,  and  Thomas  Lloyd  Halsey. 
It  is  now  called  the  "  University  Grammar  School,"  and  is 
taught  by  Messrs.  Merrick  and  Emory  Lyon,  they  having 
the  entire  responsibility  of  its  management.  This  school 
has  ever  been  an  efficient  auxiliary  to  the  college  or  uni 
versity. 


G8 


MANNING   AND  CHAP.  II. 


At  the  time  of  Manning's  arrival  in  Warren,  there  were 
nearly  sixty  Baptist  communicants  residing  in  that  town, 
the  majority  of  whom  were  members  of  the  venerable 
church  in  Swanzey.  The  population  of  the  village  was 
then  rapidly  increasing,  and  the  time  seemed  to  have  ar 
rived  when  they  could  best  secure  their  religious  interests 
by  forming  themselves  into  a  separate  and  independent 
body,  instead  of  being  considered  as  a  branch  of  the  mother 
church.  It  was  this  fact,  perhaps,  which  determined  the 
first  location  of  the  college.  Without  funds  it  could  not, 
of  course,  in  its  feeble  beginning,  support  itself.  It  seemed 
therefore  desirable  to  connect  it  with  some  church,  over 
which  its  President  should  be  pastor,  that  he  might  there 
by  derive  an  income  sufficient  for  the  maintenance  of  his 
family.  The  time  and  circumstances  pointed  to  Warren 
as  the  place  for  this  design,  and  accordingly  Manning  set 
tled  himself  here,1  and,  while  engaged  in  teaching,  employed 
also  a  portion  of  his  time  in  preaching  to  the  people  the 
gospel.  His  zeal  and  eloquence  soon  attracted  a  numerous 
congregation.  The  fruits  of  his  ministry  were  apparent, 
and  not  a  few  persons  became  believers  in  Christ  and  were 
baptized.  On  the  15th  day  of  November,  1764,  a  church 
of  fifty-eight  members  was  duly  organized  and  constituted. 
By  previous  appointment,  they  had  engaged  the  Rev.  John 
Gano  of  New  York,  the  Rev.  Gardner  Thurston  of  New 
port,  and  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Hinds  of  Middleborough, 
Mass.,  to  assist  in  the  proposed  undertaking.  The  day 


1  In  an  early  diary  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hezekiab  Smith,  we  find  the  following: 
"  Saturday,  April  21,  1764.  I  went  to  Warren  (from  Newport)  with  Mrs.  Man 
ning,  Esq.  Coles,  Capt.  Wheaton,  and  Mr.  Lillibridge.  Sabbath,  22.  Preached 
in  Littletown  in  Warren,  from  John  iii.  4,  two  sermons.  Staid  in  Warren  till 
Wednesday,  25th,  at  Esq.  Coles's." 

Mr.  Smith,  it  appears,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Manning,  left  New  York  for  New 
port,  Wednesday,  April  11.  They  reached  Newport  on  the  13th.  when  Mr.  Man 
ning  proceeded  at  once  to  Warren. 


1764-1769.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


GO 


being  kept  in  the  solemn  exercise  of  fasting  and  prayer, 
"  in  the  forenoon,"  says  the  record,  "  Mr.  Thurston  preached 
a  sermon,  and  after  a  short  intermission  of  service,  the 
people  returned,  and  Messrs.  Gano,  Manning,  and  Hinds 
each  made  a  prayer  suitable  to  the  occasion,  after  which 
the  church  covenant,  previously  prepared  by  Mr.  Manning, 
was  presented  and  read." 

This  covenant,  the  original  of  which,  in  Manning's  hand 
writing,  is  still  in  existence,  we  here  present,  as  follows  :  — 

COVENANT    OF   THE   BAPTIST    CHUKCH,  WAKKEN,    E.  I. 

Whereas  we,  unworthy  sinners,  through  the  infinite  riches  of  free 
grace,  as  we  trust,  brought  out  of  darkness  into  the  marvellous  light  of 
the  gospel,  and  the  grace  of  it,  transformed  into  the  kingdom  of  God's 
dear  Son  Jesus  Christ  our  only  Lord  and  Saviour,  and  made  partakers  of 
all  those  privileges  which  Christ  purchased  with  his  precious  blood,  think 
it  our  duty,  and  the  greatest  privilege  we  can  enjoy  here  on  earth,  to  walk 
in  all  the  commandments  and  ordinances,  not  only  for  our  own  comfort 
and  peace,  but  for  the  manifestation  of  the  glory  of  God  and  for  the  mu 
tual  help  and  society  of  each  other  ;  and  as  it  hath  pleased  God  to  appoint 
a  visible  church  relation,  to  be  the  way  and  manner  whereby  he  is  pleased 
to  communicate  to  his  people  the  blessings  of  his  presence,  a  growth  in 
grace,  and  furtherance  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  God  — 

We,  therefore,  this  day,  after  solemn  fasting  and  prayer  for  help  and 
direction,  in  the  fear  of  His  holy  name,  and  with  hearts  lifted  up  to  the 
most  high  God,  humbly  and  freely  offer  up  ourselves  a  living  sacrifice  unto 
him  who  is  our  God,  in  covenant,  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  walk  together 
according  to  his  revealed  word,  in  visible  gospel  relation,  both  to  Christ 
our  only  head  and  to  each  other  as  fellow-members  and  brethren  of  the 
same  household  of  faith. 

And  we  do  humbly  engage,  that,  through  His  strength,  we  will  endeavor 
to  perform  all  our  respective  duties  towards  God  and  each  other,  and  to 
practise  all  the  ordinances  of  Christ,  according  to  what  is  and  shall  be 
made  known  to  us  in  our  respective  places ;  to  exercise,  practise,  and 
submit  to  the  government  of  Christ  in  this  church. 

And  we  declare  that  it  is  our  mind  that  none  are  properly  qualified 


70  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IT. 

members  of  this  Christ's  visible  church  but  such  as  have  been  wrought 
upon  by  the  grace  of  God,  delivered  from  their  sins  by  the  justifying  right 
eousness  of  Christ,  have  the  evidence  of  it  in  their  souls,  have  made 
profession  thereof,  — that  is,  of  a  living  faith  in  Christ,  —  and  have  been 
baptized,  by  immersion,  in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity. 

Further,  it  is  our  mind  that  the  imposition  or  non-imposition  of  hands 
upon  believers,  after  baptism,  is  not  essential  to  church  communion,  and 
that  where  the  image  of  Christ  is  discerned,  according  to  the  rules  of  God's 
word,  and  those  previous  duties  but  now  mentioned  are  submitted  to  ac 
cording  to  gospel  rules,  we  arc  ready  to  hold  communion  with  all  such 
walking  orderly  in  the  church  of  Christ. 

And  now  we  humbly  hope,  that,  although  of  ourselves  we  are  altogether 
unworthy  and  unfit  thus  to  offer  up  ourselves  to  God,  or  to  do  him  any 
service,  or  to  expect  any  favor  or  mercy  from  him,  yet  that  he  will  gra 
ciously  accept  of  this  our  freewill  offering,  in  and  through  the  merits  and 
mediation  of  our  dear  Redeemer,  and  that  he  will  employ  and  improve  us 
in  his  service  to  his  own  praise,  —  to  whom  be  all  the  glory,  both  now  and 
forever. 

After  the  members  had  signed  the  foregoing  covenant, 
"  they  were  asked,"  continues  the  record,  "  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Manning,  whether  they,  in  the  presence  of  that  assem 
bly,  viewed  that  as  their  covenant  and  plan  of  union  in  a 
church  relation,  which  question  was  answered  by  them  all 
in  the  affirmative,  standing  up ;  after  which,  three  of  the 
brethren,  Samuel  Hix,  Amos  Haile,  and  John  Coomer,  in 
behalf  of  the  church,  presented  a  call,  previously  prepared 
by  the  brethren,  to  the  Rev.  James  Manning  to  become 
their  pastor.  The  call  was  read  publicly  by  the  Rev, 
Mr.  Gano,  after  which,  he  asked  the  Rev.  James  Man 
ning  if  he  accepted  it,  which  was  answered  in  the  affirma 
tive. 

"  Then  Mr.  Gano  preached  a  sermon,  suitable  to  the 
occasion,  in  which  he  reminded  both  pastor  and  people  of 
their  respective  duties,  and  urged  the  mutual  performance 
of  both,  from  those  important  motives  which  the  nature  of 


1704-1709.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  71 

the  relation  requires.  Thus  ended  the  solemnities  of  the 
day." 

The  relations  which  Manning  now  assumed  proved  alike 
pleasant  and  profitable  to  pastor  and  flock.  During  the 
six  years  of  his  ministry  in  Warren,  the  church  greatly 
increased  in  numbers  and  strength,  while  the  college 
flourished  under  its  fostering  care. 

At  the  second  meeting  of  the  corporation,  held  in  New 
port,  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  September,  1765,  he  was 
formally  appointed  "  President  of  the  College,  Professor 
of  Languages,  and  other  branches  of  learning,  with  full 
power  to  act  in  these  capacities  at  Warren,  or  elsewhere." 
This  is  the  language  of  the  record,  which,  as  has  been 
playfully  remarked,  "  though  not  obnoxious  to  the  charge 
of  legal  precision,  seems  to  imply,  on  the  part  of  the  cor 
poration,  no  want  of  confidence  in  the  variety  of  the  Pres 
ident's  attainments."  A  letter  addressed  by  Backus  to  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Gill,  of  London,  an  extract  from  which  we  here 
present,  illustrates  Manning's  position  at  this  time,  as  a 
pioneer  in  introducing  polite  literature  or  learning  among 
the  Baptists  of  New  England  :  — 

One  grand  objection  made  use  of  against  believers'  baptism,  has  been 
tbat  none  but  ignorant  and  illiterate  men  have  embraced  the  Baptist  sen 
timents.  And  there  was  so  much  color  for  it  as  this,  namely,  that  ten 
years  ago  there  were  but  two  Baptist  ministers  (Jeremiah  Condy  of 
Boston,  and  Edward  Up  ham  of  Newport)  in  all  New  England  who  had 
what  is  called  a  liberal  education ;  and  they  were  not  clear  in  the  doctrines 
of  grace.  But  three  others  have  lately  come  from  the  Southern  govern 
ments  ;  namely,  Mr.  Samuel  Stillman,  who  is  settled  in  Boston ;  Mr. 
Hezekiah  Smith,  who  has  had  remarkable  success  at  Haverhill,  where 
he  has  gathered  a  large  society ;  and  Mr.  James  Manning,  who  is  settled 
at  Warren,  R.  I.  And  as  the  Baptists  have  met  with  a  great  deal 
of  abuse  from  those  who  are  called  learned  men  in  our  land,  they  have 
been  not  a  little  prejudiced  against  learning  itself ;  but,  latterly,  there 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  II. 

has  been  considerable  alteration  in  this  respect.  A  charter  was  ob 
tained  from  the  General  Assembly  of  Rhode  Island  in  February,  1764, 
incorporating  a  number  of  Trustees  and  Fellows,  for  founding  and  en 
dowing  a  college  for  the  education  of  youth  (of  which  you  will  be  likely 
to  hear  more  in  due  time) ;  and  this  corporation,  at  their  annual  meeting, 
last  September,  chose  the  aforesaid  Mr.  Manning  President.  He  has 
commenced  a  school,  which  appears  in  a  likely  way  to  increase  fast.  But 
as  there  are  scarce  any  books  suitable  for  such  business  to  be  sold  in  that 
colony,  he  has  thought  of  sending  to  London  for  a  quantity ;  and  as  he 
is  unknown  there,  he  requested  that  I  would  write  a  few  lines  in  his  favor. 
Therefore,  my  dear  sir,  if  my  poor  testimony  may  be  thought  worthy  of 
any  notice,  I  desire  that  you  would  mention  to  Mr.  Keith,  to  whom  he 
has  thoughts  of  sending,  that,  from  near  two  years'  acquaintance  with  him, 
I  am  well  satisfied  that  he  is  a  man  of  piety,  integrity,  and  ability,  who  will 
make  conscience  of  fulfilling  his  engagements. 

I  remain,  sir,  your  humble  servant, 

ISAAC  BACKUS. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  Manning  conceived  the  plan 
of  uniting  the  churches  of  New  England  on  some  common 
basis,  in  order  to  promote  their  harmony  and  growth,  to 
resist  more  successfully  acts  of  oppression  on  the  part  of  the 
"  Standing  Order  "  in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  and 
especially  to  disarm  his  brethren  of  all  existing  prejudices 
against  human  learning,  and  thereby  effectually  advance 
the  interests  of  the  college.  The  undertaking  was  one 
of  no  ordinary  magnitude.  The  government  of  Baptist 
churches  had  been  from  time  immemorial,  as  now,  of  the 
independent  form,  each  particular  church  having  an  ex 
clusive  right  of  jurisdiction  over  its  own  members,  elect 
ing  and  dismissing  its  own  officers,  and  transacting  all  its 
business  by  final  issue  within  itself,  without  appeal  to  any 
power  on  earth,  either  civil  or  ecclesiastical.  With  the 
Baptist  churches  of  New  England,  especially,  it  had  long 
been  an  article  of  belief,  that  civil  government,  although 
desirable  and  necessary  for  civil  purposes,  has  nothing  to 


1704-1709.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  73 

do  with  Christ's  kingdom,  which  is  spiritual  and  not  of 
this  world,  and  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  visible  church, 
which  is  subject  to  Jesus  Christ  alone  as  the  head  thereof. 
Hence  they  regarded  all  synods,  conventions,  associations, 
and  councils  to  decide  religious  controversies,  revoke  acts 
of  particular  churches,  inflict  censure,  form  platforms,  and 
prepare  articles  of  frith,  as  useless  and  unfriendly  to  the 
independency  of  the  churches  ;  as  having  more  or  less  re 
spect  to  the  civil  state,  and  therefore  partaking  too  much 
of  the  carnal  wisdom  of  this  world.  They  had  suffered 
too  much  from  measures  adopted  at  these  meetings  among 
the  Congregational  ministers  of  Massachusetts  and  Con 
necticut  to  be  easily  persuaded  to  meet  in  any  association, 
even  though  it  were  upon  a  plan  altogether  different  from 
the  associations  and  conventions  in  New  England.  It  is 
true  that  at  a  former  period  the  Baptists  had  been  united 
in  some  kind  of  an  organization.  Knight,  in  his  History 
of  the  Six-Principle  Baptists,  whose  sentiments  generally 
prevailed  in  the  early  history  of  Rhode  Island,  says,  "The 
churches  of  Providence,  Newport,  Swanzey,  and  North 
Kingston,  about  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century,  uni 
ted  in  a  yearly  meeting  composed  of  elders,  messengers," 
etc.  Comer,  who  was  a  decided  advocate  for  the  doctrine 
of  "  laying  on  of  hands,"  in  his  manuscript  diary  gives  an 
account  of  this  meeting  in  1729.  Callender,  also,  in  his 
Historical  Discourse,  alludes  to  the  same  meeting  or  asso 
ciation.  We  have  before  us  now  a  letter  printed  in  1741, 
from  sundry  persons  in  Newport,  addressed  to  the  "  several 
Baptist  churches  in  New  England,  that  are,  or  have  been, 
united  in  the  general  meetings  usually  held  at  Providence, 
Swanzey,"  etc.  In  the  progress  of  time,  however,  some 
of  the  Six-Principle  churches  which  organized  this  meeting 
became  extinct,  others  ceased  to  maintain  their  peculiar 
7 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  II. 

sentiments,  and  it  was  gradually,  by  most  of  the  regular 
Baptist  churches,  at  the  period  of  which  we  are  now  speak 
ing,  abandoned. 

It  was  Manning's  wish  to  unite  all  the  churches  of  his 
faith  and  order  in  New  England  in  an  association  similar 
to  the  one  formed  in  Philadelphia,  which  was  simply  advi 
sory  in  its  character,  having  respect  to  the  advancement 
of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  by  spreading  through  the 
churches  an  account  of  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  each. 
He  submitted  his  plan  to  the  members  of  his  own  church, 
who  cordially  seconded  his  views,  as  appears  from  a  formal 
vote  on  the  subject,  which  we  find  recorded  under  date 
of  August  28,  1766.  He  also  conferred  with  his  brethren 
in  the  ministry,  who  were  occasionally  at  his  house.1  Let 
ters  of  invitation  were  accordingly  sent  out,  and  on  the  8th 
of  September,  1767,  a  meeting  of  pastors  and  delegates 
from  the  principal  Baptist  churches  in  Massachusetts  and 
Rhode  Island  met  at  Warren.  Hence  the  origin  of  the 
Warren  Association,  the  first  organization  of  the  kind  in 
New  England,  and,  according  to  Benedict,  the  sixth  in 
America.  The  Rev.  Isaac  Backus,  of  Middleborough,  who 
was  chosen  clerk  of  this  meeting,  thus  commences  the 
minutes :  — 

"  Whereas  there  hath  of  late  been  a  great  increase  of  Baptist  churches 
in  New  England,  which  yet  have  not  such  an  acquaintance  with  each 
other  and  orderly  union  together  as  ought  to  be,  it  has  been  thought  by 
many  that  a  general  meeting  or  association  might  be  a  likely  means  to  re 
move  this  evil,  and  to  promote  the  general  good  of  the  churches.  There- 

i  Mr.  Manning,  it  seems,  also  visited  the  pastors  and  churches  in  person,  and 
conferred  with  them  on  the  subject.  From  the  diary  to  which  we  have  already 
referred,  we  learn,  for  instance,  that  he  visited  the  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith,  Tuesday, 
April  15, 1766,  and  stopped  until  Thursday,  preaching  both  days  in  his  meeting 
house.  On  Monday,  April  21,  Mr.  Smith  set  out  for  Rhode  Island,  joining  Mr. 


1701-1700.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  75 

fore  a  number  of  ciders,  being  occasionally  together  last  year,  did  appoint 
a  meeting  at  Warren,  in  Rhode  Island  Colony,  on  Sept.  8,  1767;  and 
sent  an  invitation  to  others  of  their  brethren  to  meet  them  there,  to  confer 
upon  these  affairs.  Accordingly  a  considerable  number  of  elders  and 
brethren  met  at  the  time  and  place  appointed ;  and  Elder  John  Gano, 
from  New  York,  opened  the  meeting  with  a  suitable  sermon,  from  Acts 
xv.  9." 

Eleven  churches  were  represented  at  this  meeting  by 
pastor  and  delegates,  as  follows  ;  namely,  Warren  —  Rev. 
James  Manning,  and  brethren  Benjamin  Cole  and  Daniel 
Brown  ;  Second,  Rehoboth  —  Rev.  Richard  Round,  and 
brethren  Samuel  Bullock  and  Daniel  Bullock ;  Haverhill  — 
Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith,  and  brethren  Jacob  Whittier  and 
Jonathan  Shepard;  Norton  —  Rev.  William  Carpenter; 
Bellingharn  —  Rev.  Noah  Alden  ;  First,  Middleborough  — 
Rev.  Isaac  Backus  ;  Second,  Middleborough  —  Rev.  Eben- 
ezer  Hinds ;  Cumberland  —  Rev.  Daniel  Miller ;  First,  Bos 
ton —  Dea.  Josiah  Colburn  ;  Second,  Boston  —  Brother 
Philip  Freeman  ;  Attleborough — brethren  Abraham  Bloss 
and  Joseph  Guild.  There  were  also  present  from  the 
Philadelphia  Association,  Rev.  Messrs.  John  Gano,  Abel 
Griffith,  and  Noah  Hammond.  Mr.  Gano  was  chosen  mod 
erator,  and,  after  looking  to  Heaven  for  guidance  and  direc 
tion,  they  proceeded  to  the  business  before  them.  The 
occasion,  as  we  may  well  suppose,  was  one  of  unusual  inter 
est.  The  Philadelphia  Association,  having  been  informed 
of  the  proposed  meeting  by  President  Manning,  sent  them 
the  following  timely  letter,  written  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel 
Jones : — 

Manning  at  Boston.  Mr.  Smith  remained  in  Warren  and  Newport  until  Saturday, 
May  8th,  a  little  more  than  two  weeks,  spending  most  of  his  time  with  Manning. 
On  Monday,  Aug.  4,  of  this  same  year,  Mr.  Smith  again  visited  Warren,  stopping 
until  Friday  with  his  friend  and  classmate.  On  Wednesday,  Nov.  12th,  Mr. 
Manning  was  in  Haverhill,  and  gave  the  charge  at  Mr.  Smith's  ordination. 


76  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  II. 


LETTER    TO    THE    WARREX   ASSOCIATION. 

The  Elders  and  Messengers  of  the  several  Baptist  churches  met  in  Associa 
tion  at  Philadelphia,  the  14th,  5th,  and  16th  days  of  October,  17CG. 
To  the  Elders  and  Messengers  of  the  several  Baptist  Churches  of  the 
same  faith  and  order,  to  meet  in  Association  at  Warren,  in  the  Colony 
of  Rhode  Island,  the  8th  day  of  September,  1767,  send  greeting. 
DEARLY  BELOVED  BRETHREN  :  —  When  we  understood  that  you  had 
concluded  to  meet  at  the  time  and  place  above  mentioned,  with  a  view  to 
lay  the  foundation-stone  of  an  associational  building,  it  gave  us  peculiar 
joy,  in  that  it  opened  to  our  view  a  prospect  of  much  good  being  done. 
You  will  perhaps  judge  this  our  address  to  you  premature,  because  as  yet 
you  have  only  an  ideal  being,  as  a  body  by  appointment.     But  if  you 
should  call  this  our  forwardness  blind  zeal,  we  are  still  in  hopes  you  will 
not  forget  that  our  embracing  the  first  opportunity  of  commencing  Chris 
tian  fellowship  and  acquaintance  with  you,  affords  the  strongest  evidence 
of  our  approbation  of  your  present  meeting,  and  how  fond  we  should  be 
of  mutual  correspondence  between  us  in  this  way. 

A  long  course  of  experience  and  observation  has  taught  us  to  have  the 
highest  sense  of  the  advantages  which  accrue  from  associations ;  nor  in 
deed  does  the  nature  or  thing  speak  any  other  language.  For,  as  particu 
lar  members  are  collected  together  and  united  in  one  body,  which  \ye  call 
a  particular  church,  to  answer  those  ends  and  purposes  which  could  not 
be  accomplished  by  any  single  member,  so  a  collection  and  union  of 
churches  into  one  associational  body  may  easily  be  conceived  capable  of 
answering  those  still  greater  purposes  which  any  particular  church  could 
not  be  equal  to.  And  by  the  same  reason,  a  union  of  associations  will 
still  increase  the  body  in  weight  and  strength,  and  make  it  good  that  a 
threefold  cord  is  not  easily  broken. 

Great,  dear  brethren,  is  the  design  of  your  meeting ;  great  is  the  work 
which  lies  before  you.  You  will  need  the  guidance  and  influence  of  the 
Divine  Spirit,  as  well  as  the  exertion  of  all  prudence  and  wisdom.  It  is 
therefore  our  most  ardent  prayer  that  you  may  meet  in  love,  that  peace 
and  unanimity  may  subsist  among  you  during  your  consultations,  that 
you  may  be  animated  with  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  directed  to  ad 
vise  and  determine  what  may  most  conduce  to  promote  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom. 

From  considering  the  divided  state  of  our  Baptist  churches  in  your 


17G4-17G9. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  77 


quarter,  we  foresee  that  difficulties  may  arise,  such  as  may  call  for  the 
exercise  of  the  greatest  tenderness  and  moderation,  that  if  haply,  through 
the  blessing  of  God  on  your  endeavors,  those  lesser  differences  may  sub 
side,  and  a  more  general  union  commence. 

As  touching  our  consultations  at  this  our  meeting,  the  minutes  of  our 
proceedings  (a  printed  copy  whereof  we  shall  herewith  enclose)  will  in 
form  you ;  and  if  in  anything  further  you  should  be  desirous  of  informa 
tion  with  regard  to  us,  we  refer  you  to  our  reverend  and  beloved  brethren 
Morgan  Edwards,  John  Gano,  and  Samuel  Jones,  who,  as  our  representa 
tive  delegates,  will  present  you  with  this  our  letter,  and  whom  we  rec 
ommend  to  Christian  fellowship  with  you. 

And  now,  dear  brethren,  farewell.  May  the  Lord  bless  and  direct  you 
in  all  things,  and  grant  that  we  may  all  hereafter  form  one  general  as 
sembly  at  his  right  hand,  through  infinite  riches  of  free  grace  in  Christ 
Jesus  our  Lord. 

Signed  by  order  and  in  behalf  of  the  Association,  by 

BENJAMIN  MILLER,  Moderator. 
SAMUEL  JONES,  Cleric. 


Neither  Edwards  nor  Jones  was  present  at  this  meeting, 
but,  in  their  stead,  Messrs.  Griffith  and  Hammond,  as  has 
already  been  stated.  Although  the  delegates  in  attendance 
"  generally  manifested,"  says  Backus,  "  a  good  will  toward 
this  attempt  for  promoting  the  union  and  welfare  of  the 
churches,  most  of  them  thought  they  were  not  prepared  to 
join  in  an  association."  The  pastors  and  messengers  of 
but  four  were  ready  at  this  time  to  unite  ;  namely,  Warren, 
Haverhill,  Bellingham,  and  Second  Middleborough.  The 
other  delegates  present  seem  to  have  hesitated,  through 
fear  of  some  usurpation  of  authority  by  the  associated  body 
over  the  particular  churches  composing  it ;  an  evil  which 
they  were  determined,  if  possible,  to  avoid.  Besides,  they 
were  not  altogether  satisfied  with  the  plan  of  organization 
and  action  now  adopted.  This  plan  was  substantially  that 
of  the  Philadelphia  Association,  and  was  thought  to  give 


78  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  II. 

undue  authority  to  the  united  body.  It  was,  however, 
soon  after  so  explained  and  amended  as  to  be  less  objec 
tionable.  At  the  second  meeting,  also  held  in  Warren, 
the  churches  of  Sutton,  Leicester,  and  Ware,  and  the  First 
Church  in  Boston,  over  which  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stillman  had 
recently  been  settled,  joined  the  Association,  thus  swelling 
the  number  to  eight.  The  Rev.  Benjamin  Miller  and  the 
Rev.  Isaac  Stelle,  of  New  Jersey,  both  warm  personal 
friends  of  Manning,  were  present  upon  this  occasion,  as  del 
egates  from  the  parent  body  at  Philadelphia.  In  1769,  the 
churches  of  Sturbridge,  Enfield,  Wilbraharn,  and  Montague 
joined  the  Association.  At  this  meeting  the  following  sen 
timents  and  plan,  drawn  up  by  President  Manning,  were 
adopted  as  a  final  basis  for  organization  and  action. 


SENTIMENTS   TOUCHING   AN   ASSOCIATION. 

1.  That  such  a  combination  of  churches  is  not  only  prudent,  but  useful, 
as  has  appeared  even  in  America  by  the  experience  of  upwards  of  sixty 
years.  Some  of  the  uses  of  it  arc,  union  and  communion  among  them 
selves  ;  maintaining  more  effectually  the  order  and  faith  once  delivered  to 
the  saints  ;  having  advice  in  cases  of  doubt,  and  help  in  distress ;  being 
more  able  to  promote  the  good  of  the  cause,  and  becoming  important  in 
the  eye  of  the  civil  powers,  as  has  already  appeared  in  many  instances  on 
this  continent.  2.  That  such  an  association  is  consistent  with  the  inde 
pendency  and  power  of  particular  churches,  because  it  pretends  to  be  no 
other  than  an  advisory  council,  utterly  disclaiming  superiority,  jurisdiction, 
coercive  right,  and  infallibility.  3.  That  an  association  should  consist  of 
men  knowing  an.d  judicious,  particularly  in  the  Scriptures.  The  reasons 
are  obvious  :  such  men  are  the  fittest  to  represent  communities  who  profess 
the  Scriptures  to  be  the  only  rule  of  faith  and  practice  in  religious  matters, 
and  who  expect  that  every  advice,  opinion,  or  direction  they  receive  from 
an  association  be  Scriptural.  They  should  be  skilled  and  expert  in  the 
laws  of  their  God,  as  counsellors  are  in  the  laws  of  the  land ;  for  that  is 
the  ground  of  the  church's  application  to  them. 


1704-1769.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  79 


PLAN   OF   THE   ASSOCIATION. 

1 .  The  Association  to  consist  only  of  messengers  chosen  and  sent  by 
the  churches.    These  messengers  to  be  their  ministers  (for  a  reason  given 
in  sentiment  3),  together  with  some  judicious  brethren.    Their  expenses  to 
be  borne  by  the  churches  which  send  them. 

2.  With  the  messengers  the  churches  send  letters  addressed  to  the  As 
sociation.    In  these  letters  mention  is  made  of  the  messengers,  and  their 
authority  to  act  for  their  churches  ;  also  of  the  state  of  the  churches  touch 
ing  their  peace  ;  their  increase  by  baptism,  and  by  letters  dismissive  and 
commendatory  from  other  churches ;  touching  their  diminution  by  death, 
excommunication,  and  dismission  to  other  churches,  and  the  present 
number  of  members.     If  any  questions  are  to  be  put  to  the  Association, 
any  advice  to  ask,  or  business  to  propose,  these  are  to  be  expressed  in 
said  letters. 

3.  All  matters  to  be  determined  in  this  Association  by  the  suffrage  of 
the  messengers,  except  what  are  detcrminable  by  Scripture  :  such  matters 
are  never  put  to  the  decision  of  votes.    All  that  speak  are  to  address  the 
moderator,  who  is  to  take  care  that  none  be  interrupted  while  speaking, 
and  that  no  other  indecorum  take  place, 

4.  Churches  are  to  be  received  into  this  Association  by  petitions  setting 
forth  their  desire  to  be  admitted,  their  faith,  order,  and  willingness  to  be 
conformable  to  the  rules  of  the  associated  body.     When  a  petition  is  read, 
and  the  matter  ripened  for  a  vote,   the  moderator  states  the  question. 
Suffrage  being  given  in  favor  of  the  petition,  the  said  moderator  declares 
that  such  a  church  is  received  into  the  Association,  in  token  of  Avhich  he 
gives  the  messengers  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  and  bids  them  take  their 
seats. 

5.  The  Association  to  meet  annually,  at  Warren,  on  Tuesday  next  after 
the  first  Wednesday  in  September,1  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  to 
continue  till  business  be  finished.     It  is  to  be  opened  with  divine  service  : 
after  which  a  moderator  and  clerk  are  chosen;   the  letters  from  the 
churches  are  read ;  the  names  of  the  messengers  are  written,  that  they  may 


1  "And  as  the  annual  Commencement  at  our  college  is  on  the  first  Wednesday 
in  September,  and  some  who  come  to  it  from  a  distance  would  desire  to  attend 
the  Association  also,  it  was  appointed  to  be  on  the  Tuesday  after  the  Commence 
ment."  (Backus's  Church  History,  Vol.  III.,  p.  113.) 


80  M  A  N  N  I N  G    AND  CHAP.  1  [. 

be  called  over  at  after  meetings  ;  then  business  is  attended  to,  and  minutes 
thereof  made;  a  circular  letter  to  the  churches  is  prepared  and  signed, 
and  a  copy  of  it  sent  to  every  church,  containing  the  minutes  of  the  Asso 
ciation,  the  state  of  the  churches,  when  and  by  Avhom  vacancies  are  to  be 
supplied,  who  is  to  preach  the  next  Association  sermon,  and  whatever  else 
is  needful  for  the  churches  to  know. 

6.  A  connection  to  be  formed  and  maintained  between  this  Association 
and  that  of  Philadelphia,  by  annual  letter  and  messengers  from  us  to  them 
and  from  them  to  us. 

7.  The  faith  and  order  of  this  Association  are  expressed  in  a  confession 
put  forth  by  upwards  of  a  hundred  congregations  in  Great  Britain,  in  the 
year  1689,  and  adopted  by  the  Association  of  Philadelphia  in  1742.     Some 
of  the  principles  in  said  confession  are :  The  imputation  of  Adam's  sin  to 
his  posterity ;  the  inability  of  man  to  recover  himself;  effectual  calling  by 
sovereign  grace ;  justification  by  imputed   righteousness ;   immersion  for 
baptism,  and  that  on  profession  of  faith  and  repentance  ;  congregational 
churches  and  their  independency  ;  reception  into  them  upon  evidence  of 
sound  conversion,  etc. 

The  meeting  this  year  (17G9)  was  rendered  unusually 
interesting  by  the  presence,  as  messengers  from  the  Phila 
delphia  Association,  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Morgan  Edwards 
(who  had  but  recently  returned  from  England  and  Ireland 
on  his  mission  in  behalf  of  the  college),  Samuel  Jones,  and 
John  Davis.  "  Many  of  the  letters  from  the  churches," 
says  Backus,  "  mentioned  grievous  oppressions  and  perse 
cutions  from  the  '  standing  order,'  especially  the  one  from 
Ashfield,  where  religious  tyranny  had  been  carried  to 
great  lengths."  Whereupon  petitions  to  the  General 
Courts  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  for  redress  were 
prepared,  by  a  committee  of  seven,  of  which  the  Rev.  John 
Davis  acted  as  chairman.  The  same  having  been  read  and 
approved,  Messrs.  Samuel  Stillman,  Philip  Freeman,  Philip 
Freeman  Jr.,  John  Proctor,  and  Nathan  S.  Spear,  all  of 
Boston,  were  chosen  a  committee  to  present  them. 

The  following  proposal  and  plan  to  collect  grievances, 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  81 

which  we  copy  from  the  manuscript  minutes  of  Backus, 
Was  also  read  at  this  meeting  and  approved :  — 

"  Whereas,  complaints  of  oppressions  occasioned  by  a  non-conformity  to 
the  religious  establishment  in  New  England  have  been  brought  to  this 
Association  ;  and  whereas  the  laws  obtained  for  preventing  and  redressing 
such  oppressions  have,  upon  trial,  been  found  insufficient  (either  through 
defect  in  the  laws  themselves  or  iniquity  in  the  execution  thereof)  ;  and 
whereas  humble  remonstrances  and  petitions  have  not  been  duly  regarded, 
but  the  same  oppressive  measures  continue  :  This  is  to  inform  all  the 
oppressed  Baptists  in  New  England  that  the  Association  of  Warren  (in 
conjunction  with  the  Western  or  Philadelphia  Association)  is  determined 
to  seek  remedy  for  their  brethren  where  a  speedy  and  effectual  one  may 
be  had.  In  order  to  pursue  this  resolution  by  petition  and  memorial,  the 
following  gentlemen  are  appointed  to  receive  well-attested  grievances,  to 
be  by  them  transmitted  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Stillman  of  Boston  ;  namely, 
Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith  of  HaverhilJ,  Rev.  Isaac  Backus  of  Middleborough, 
Mr.  Richard  Montague  of  Sunderland,  Rev.  Joseph  Meacham  of  Enfield, 
and  Rev.  Thomas  Whitman  of  Groton  in  Connecticut." 

The  efforts  put  forth  by  the  Baptists  in  behalf  of  civil 
and  religious  freedom,  through  the  agency  of  the  Warren 
Association,  will  be  further  illustrated  in  successive  chap 
ters  of  our  present  work.  Those  who  may  wish  to  consult 
fuller  and  more  detailed  accounts,  are  referred  to  Backus's 
Church  History  of  New  England,  and  especially  to  Prof. 
Hovey's  Memoir  of  the  Life  and  Times  of  Backus. 

Gradually  the  Association  won  the  confidence  of  the 
denomination,  until  in  a  few  years  it  had  extended  over 
New  England.  By  its  means  mutual  acquaintance  and 
harmony  were  promoted  ;  the  weak  and  the  oppressed 
were  relieved  ;  errors  in  doctrine  and  in  practice  were  ex 
posed  and  guarded  against ;  warnings  against  false  teach 
ers  in  religion  were  published ;  feeble  and  destitute  flocks 
were  provided  with  preachers ;  the  college  was  materially 


82  M  A  N  N I N  G    A  N  D  CHAP.  II. 

aided  and  strengthened ;  students  were  encouraged  to 
study  for  the  ministry,  and  the  gospel  was  preached  in 
the  wilderness.  During  the  period  of  the  Revolution  it 
presented  able  addresses  in  behalf  of  civil  and  religious 
freedom  to  the  Governments  of  Massachusetts  and  Con 
necticut,  and  to  the  Continental  Congress.  Although, 
says  Arnold,  in  his  History  of  Rhode  Island,  it  no  longer 
has  that  intimate  connection  with  the  University  which  at 
first  existed,  and  the  growth  of  Baptist  churches  in  New 
England  has  given  rise  to  numerous  other  associations  of 
a  similar  character,  the  parent  body  still  continues  to  ex 
ert  a  widespread  and  beneficent  influence  over  the  objects 
of  its  charge. 

The  Minutes  l  of  the  Association  show  that  Manning, 
during  the  whole  period  of  his  connection  with  it,  was  one 
of  its  most  prominent  and  useful  members.  By  his  coun 
sels  and  personal  influence  he  first  called  it  into  being.  As 
has  already  been  stated,  he  drew  up  the  plan  of  its  organ 
ization.  In  the  years  1776,  1781,  1784,  and  1787,  he  pre 
sided  over  its  deliberations  as  moderator.  In  1778  and  in 
1787  he  preached  the  introductory  sermon.  In  1785  he 
made  the  opening  prayer.  From  year  to  year  we  find  his 
name  on  various  important  committees.  He  was  likewise 
prominent  as  a  member  of  the  Philadelphia  Association, 
rarely  failing,  especially  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  to 
attend  its  sessions,  although  thereby  subjected  to  great 

1  The  manuscript  minutes  of  the  first  four  meetings  of  the  Warren  Association 
are  among  the  Backus  papers,  from  which  they  have  been  carefully  copied  by 
the  Rev.  Silas  Hall,  a  graduate  of  the  college  in  the  class  of  1809.  To  his  kind 
ness  in  placing  them  at  our  disposal  we  are  greatly  indebted.  The  Minutes  were 
first  printed  in  the  year  1771,  since  which  time  they  have  been  published  with 
out  interruption  down  to  the  present  date.  A  set,  including  the  aforesaid  man 
uscript  minutes,  from  the  meeting  of  the  Association  in  1767  down  to  the  present 
time,  is  in  our  possession.  The  years  1778, 1780,  and  1783  are  copied  from  a  set 
in  the  possession  of  Mr.  John  Carter  Brown;  otherwise  it  is  complete. 


1764-1769.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 

trouble,  expense,  and  loss  of  time.  He  was  once  clerk,  twice 
moderator,  and  three  times  the  preacher  at  its  annual  meet 
ings.  We  close  this  portion  of  our  narrative  with  the  follow 
ing  circular  letter,  presented  by  him  to  the  Warren  Asso 
ciation,  and  by  them  adopted,  at  its  third  meeting  in  1769. 
It  affords  a  happy  illustration  of  the  author's  temper  and 
spirit,  and  of  his  peculiar  fitness  to  guide  and  instruct  his 
brethren. 

CIRCULAR   LETTER   BY  MANNING. 

The  Elders  and  Messengers  of  several  churches  belonging  to  the  Associ 
ation,  met  in  Warren,  in  the  Colony  of  Rhode  Island,  etc.  To  the  sev 
eral  churches  they  represent,  greeting. 

DEAR  BRETHREN  :  —  We  have  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  your  repre 
sentatives  at  the  Association,  whp  in  general  have  brought  us  good  news 
from  the  churches.     We  rejoice  to  see  that  the  Son  of  man  is  pleased  to 
walk  in  the  midst  of  his  golden  candlesticks,  the  churches,  to  dispense  his 
blessings  to  his  people,  and  to  attend  the  word  of  the  kingdom  with  di 
vine  power  to  the  salvation  of  sinners.     Come !  help  us  to  magnify  the 
Lord  for  his  unspeakable  mercy  and  goodness  !     Yet  we  find  that  the  en 
emies  of  truth  are  busily  employed  in  endeavoring  to  subvert  it,  and  in 
vexing  and  oppressing  those  who  stand  up  for  the  cause  of  God.  Brethren, 
Ave  sympathize  with  you  under  your  afflictions,  while  we  call  to  mind  the 
declaration  of  your  ascended  Head  to  his  beloved  flock  whom  he  left  be 
hind, —  In  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation.     Yet  how  refreshing  is  what 
follows,  — But  be  of  good  cheer,  I  have  overcome  the  world.     Those  who  live 
godly  in  Christ  Jesus  shall  suffer  persecution.     Let  not  the  powers  of  the 
world,  who  set  themselves  to  oppose,  discourage  you.     Search  for  the  mind 
of  Christ  in  his  word ;  which  being  discovered,  pay  a  sacred  regard  thereto. 
Call  no  man  master  on  earth;  and  remember  that  the  followers  of  Christ 
carry  their  cross  in  imitation  of  their  Divine  Master.     Brethren,  suffer  us, 
however,  to  beseech  you  to  use  all  proper  means  to  obtain  relief  from  the 
burdens  imposed  upon  you,  by  taking  heed  to  the  general  plan  which  we 
as  a  body  propose  to  pursue.     But  while  you  attend  to  human  means,  let 
your  cries  be  incessant  to  Him  who  hears  and  who  will  redress  the  cries  of 
the  oppress^.    Pray  for  those  who  despitefully  use  you.    Remember  that 


84  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  II. 

love  enters  deeply  into  the  spirit  of  our  holy  religion ;  and  that  the  glorious 
Founder  thereof  has  given  us  the  most  striking  example  of  it  in  living 
and  dying  for  his  enemies.  Walk  soberly  and  inoffensively  toward  those 
without ;  and  let  your  conduct  prove  that  it  is  the  power  of  truth,  the 
force  of  conscience,  that  makes  you  Baptists,  and  not  an  affectation  of 
singularity.  And  as  you  are  persuaded  that  you  have  heen  taught  by 
the  Spirit  of  God,  so  let  your  light  shine  before  others  that  you  may  win 
them  to  the  truth.  In  the  meantime,  carefully  guard  against  any  designs 
to  ensnare  you,  or  to  engage  you  in  any  combination  with  them  that  may 
eventually  prove  to  the  detriment  of  the  cause. 

Finally,  may  the  Lord  Jesus  afford  you  his  presence,  and  bless  you 
with  abundant  increase  in  all  grace,  to  the  glory  of  his  great  name. 

Signed  by  order  and  in  behalf  of  the  Association. 

HEZEKIAH  SMITH,  Moderator. 
SAMUEL  STILLMAN,   Clerk. 

The  first  letter  from  Manning,  of  which  we  have  any 
knowledge,  is  the  following,  addressed  to  David  Howell, 
a  student  about  to  graduate  from  the  College  of  New 
Jersey :  — 

SIR  :  —  I  some  time  ago  received  a  line  from  you  by  Mr.  Stelle,  in  which 
you  requested  my  advice  relative  to  your  destination  when  you  have 
done  with  college.  I  was  glad  to  find  that  you  had  not  yet  determined 
upon  any  place  or  employment,  because  I  was  desirous  that  you  should 
make  a  visit  to  these  parts  before  your  settlement.  But  to  give  advice, 
without  having  some  prospect  of  advantage,  I  should  think  imprudent ; 
and  indeed  the  matter  is  important,  for  if  it  should  not  succeed  according 
to  your  wishes,  you  might  entertain  hard  thoughts  of  me.  However,  at 
present  it  appears  to  me  that  you  cannot  do  better  than  to  visit  Rhode 
Island.  The  success  Mr.  Stelle  has  met  with  encourages  me.  He  has  a 
Latin  school  in  the  town  of  Providence  of  nearly  twenty  scholars,  and 
may  have  more  if  he  finds  himself  able  to  manage  them.  I  believe  he 
gives  good  satisfaction,  and  is  much  esteemed  by  the  gentlemen  of  the 
town.  I  thought  when  he  came  here  that  he  would  much  more  readily 
have  found  employ  in  Newport ;  and  although  the  people  there  were  for 
making  the  attempt,  yet  he  chose  first  to  see  Providence,  whjfher  I  accom- 


1 7(11- 1 700.  BROWN    U  X"  I V  E  R  S  I  T  Y. 


85 


panied  him.  They  would  not,  however,  consent  that  he  should  go  buck, 
but  immediately  employed  him ;  so  that  if  you  are  disposed  to  keep  a 
school,  I  imagine  one  may  easily  be  obtained  in  Newport.  I  would  gladly 
invite  you  to  come  and  live  in  my  family,  if  the  infant  state  of  our  college 
could  promise  you  proper  encouragement ;  but  at  present  it  is  hardly  to 
be  expected,  although  in  the  revolution  of  a  year  it  will  doubtless  need 
more  help.  Upon  the  whole,  I  think  if  I  were  in  your  circumstances,  as 
near  as  I  can  judge,  I  should  come ;  and  I  would  advise  you  to  see  me 
before  you  engage  anywhere.  A  taste  for  learning  is  greatly  upon  the 
increase  in  this  colony.  Mr.  Stelle  can  give  you  a  more  particular  account 
of  matters  in  these  parts,  as  he  will  be  with  you  at  Commencement ;  and  if 
you  can  get  your  affairs  in  readiness,  he  will  be  your  company  over. 
After  telling  you  my  family  is  well,  as  also  your  friend  Stites,  etc.,  I  bid 
you  farewell,  wishing  you  the  best  blessings  of  heaven,  and  that  I  may 
have  the  pleasure  of  waiting  upon  Mr.  Howell  at  the  house  of 
Sir,  your  humble  servant, 

JAMES  MANNING. 
WARREN,  July  14,  1766. 


Agreeably  to  President  Manning's  advice,  Mr.  Howell 
came  to  Warren,  and  was  at  once  associated  with  him  as 
tutor  in  the  college.  In  1769  he  was  appointed  Professor 
of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy,  which  position 
he  occupied  until  the  breaking  up  of  the  college  in  con 
sequence  of  the  Re  volution  ary  War.  In  addition  to  the 
regular  studies  of  his  professorship,  he  taught  the  French, 
German,  and  Hebrew  languages.  For  thirty-four  years 
he  was  Professor  of  Law,  although  he  never  delivered  any 
lectures  in  connection  with  this  department  of  instruction. 
He  was  fifty-two  years  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Fellows, 
and  for  many  years  was  secretary  of  the  corporation.  He 
was  thus  intimately  connected  with  the  college  during  a 
large  portion  of  his  protracted  life.  On  several  occasions, 
after  President  Manning's  decease,  he  presided  at  the 
college  Commencements,  and  delivered  to  the  graduating 


8G  MANNING    AND  CITAP.  II. 

classes  Baccalaureate  addresses,  which  were  greatly  ad 
mired.  He  practised  law  in  Providence  for  many  years, 
and  was  regarded  as  the  leading  member  of  the  Rhode 
Island  bar.  Under  the  Confederation,  he  was  a  member 
of  Congress,  and  he  subsequently  filled,  with  great  ability, 
several  high  offices,  civil  and  judicial.  In  1812,  he  was 
appointed  United  States  Judge  for  the  District  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  this  office  he  sustained  until  his  death,  in  1824. 
"  Judge  Howell,"  says  Prof.  Goddard,  "  was  endowed  with 
extraordinary  talents,  and  he  superadded  to  his  endow 
ments  extensive  and  accurate  learning.  As  an  able  jurist, 
he  established  for  himself  a  solid  reputation.  He  was, 
however,  yet  more  distinguished  as  a  keen  and  brilliant 
wit,  and  as  a  scholar  extensively  acquainted  not  only  with 
the  ancient,  but  with  several  of  the  modern  languages. 
As  a  pungent  and  effective  political  writer,  he  was  almost 
unrivalled ;  and  in  conversation,  whatever  chanced  to  be 
the  therne,  whether  politics  or  law,  literature  or  theology, 
grammar  or  criticism,  a  Greek  tragedy  or  a  difficult  prob 
lem  in  mathematics,  he  was  never  found  wanting.  Upon 
all  occasions  which  made  any  demands  upon  him,  he  gave 
the  most  convincing  evidence  of  the  vigor  of  his  powers, 
and  of  the  variety  and  extent  of  his  erudition."  To  all 
this  may  be  added  extraordinary  physical  powers,  and  a 
majestic,  dignified  presence.  Such  was  the  intimate  friend 
and  early  academical  associate  of  Manning. 

The  first  Commencement  of  the  college  was  held  in  the 
meeting-house  at  Warren,  on  the  7th  of  September,  1769. 
Four  years  had  elapsed  since  the  President,  with  a  solitary 
pupil,1  commenced  his  collegiate  duties  as  an  instructor. 

1  It  is  stated  that  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Rogers,  of  Philadelphia,  was  the  first, 
and  for  several  days  the  only  student  of  Rhode  Island  College.  He  was  then  a 
mere  lad  of  fourteen.  Indeed,  the  entire  Freshman  Class  of  1765-6  consisted  of 
but  three  students. 


170 4-1709  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


87 


Through  toils,  and  difficulties,  and  opposition,  he  had  qui 
etly  persevered  in  his  work,  until  the  seminary  under  his 
care  had  won  its  way  to  public  favor.     And  now  his  first 
pupils  were  about  to  take  their  Bachelor's  degree  in  the 
Arts,  and  to  go  forth  to  the  duties  of  life.     They  were 
young  men  of  promise.     Some  of  them  were  destined  to 
fill  conspicuous  places  in  the  approaching  struggle  for  in 
dependence  ;  others  were  to  be  leaders  in  the  church,  and 
distinguished  educators  of  youth.     Probably  no  class  that 
has  gone  forth  from  the  University,  in  her  palmiest  days 
of  prosperity,  has  exerted  so  widely  extended  and  bene 
ficial  an  influence,  the  times  and  circumstances  taken  into 
consideration,  as  this  first  class  of  seven  that  graduated  at 
Warren.     The  occasion  drew  together  a  large  concourse 
of  people  from  all  parts  of  the  colony,  inaugurating  the 
earliest   State   holiday  in  the  history  of  Rhode   Island. 
"  And  as  each  recurring  anniversary  of  this  time-honored 
institution  of  learning  calls  together  from  distant  places 
the  widely-scattered  alumni  of  Brown  University,  we  do 
but  renew,  on  a  more  extended  scale,  the  congratulations 
that  crowned  this  earliest  festival." 1     The  performances  of 
the  day  excited  universal  admiration.     "  We  can  readily 
imagine,"  says  a  writer,2  "  how  the  beautiful  and  benevo 
lent  face  of  President  Manning  was  radiant  with  smiles  on 
this  occasion;  with  what  joy  he  beheld  the  first  fruits  of 
his  anxieties,  and  labors,  and  prayers ;  with  what  glowing 
eloquence  he  poured  forth,  at  the  throne  of  grace,  the 
pious  effusions  of  a  grateful  heart,  invoking  the  blessing 
of  God  upon  the  future  efforts  of  the  friends  of  the  infant 


*  Arnold's  History  of  Rhode  Island,  Vol.  II.  p.  299. 

2  Hon.  John  Pitman,  LL.  D.  See  Address  to  the  Alumni  Association  of 
Brown  University,  delivered  at  Providence  at  their  first  Anniversary,  Sept.  5, 
1843. 


MANNNIG    AND  CHAP.  II. 

institution,  and  filling  every  heart  with  emotion,  if  not 
every  eye  with  tears,  as,  with  the  affection  of  a  friend  and 
the  solicitude  of  a  father,  he  commended  to  the  care  of 
Heaven  those  who  were  about  to  depart  from  him,  and,  at 
a  period  of  no  ordinary  moment,  to  enter  a  world  of  temp 
tation  and  trial." 

The  following  account  of  this  "  first  Commencement," 
taken  from  The  Providence  Gazette  and  Country  Journal, 
needs  no  apology  for  its  insertion  here.  It  will  be  read 
with  special  interest  by  those  who  have  attended  the  com 
mencements  of  a  later  day. 

FIRST    COMMENCEMENT.     1769. 

On  Thursday,  the  seventh  of  this  instant,  was  celebrated  at  Warren 
the  first  Commencement  in  the  college  of  this  colony ;  when  the  following 
young  gentlemen  commenced  Bachelors  of  Arts  ;  namely,  Joseph  Bel- 
ton,  Joseph  Eaton,  William  Rogers,  Richard  Stites,  Charles  Thompson, 
James  Mitchel  Varnum,  and  William  Williams. 

About  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  gentlemen  concerned  in  conducting  the 
affairs  of  the  college,  together  with  the  candidates,  went  in  procession  to 
the  meeting-house. 

After  they  had  taken  their  seats  respectively,  and  the  audience  were 
composed,  the  President  introduced  the  business  of  the  day  with  prayer  ; 
then  followed  a  salutatory  oration  in  Latin,  pronounced  with  much  spirit, 
by  Mr.  Stites,  which  procured  him  great  applause  from  the  learned  part 
of  the  assembly.  He  spoke  upon  the  advantages  of  liberty  and  learning, 
and  their  mutual  dependence  upon  each  other ;  concluding  with  proper 
salutations  to  the  Chancellor  of  the  college,  Governor  of  the  colony,  etc., 
particularly  expressing  the  gratitude  of  all  the  friends  of  the  college  to 
the  Rev.  Morgan  Edwards,  who  has  encountered  many  difficulties  in 
going  to  Europe  to  collect  donations  for  the  institution,  and  has  lately 
returned. 

To  which  succeeded  a  forensic  dispute,  in  English,  on  the  following 
thesis  ;  namely,  "  The  Americans,  in  their  present  circumstances,  cannot, 
consistent  with  good  policy,  affect  to  become  an  Independent  State."  Mr. 
Varnum  ingeniously  defended  it,  by  cogent  arguments  handsomely  dressed ; 


17G1-17CO.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  80 

though  he  was  subtly  but  delicately  opposed  by  Mr.  Williams  ;  both  of 
whom  spoke  with  emphasis  and  propriety. 

As  a  conclusion  to  the  exercises  of  the  forenoon,  the  audience  were 
agreeably  entertained  with  an  oration  on  benevolence,  by  Mr.  Rogers ; 
in  which,  among  many  other  pertinent  observations,  he  particularly  no 
ticed  the  necessity  which  that  infant  seminary  stands  in  of  the  salutary 
effects  of  that  truly  Christian  virtue. 

At  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  audience  being  convened,  a  syllogistic  dis 
pute  was  introduced  on  this  thesis  :  "  Materia  cogitare  non  potest," —  Mr. 
Williams  the  respondent ;  Messieurs  Belton,  Eaton,  Rogers,  and  Varnum 
the  opponents,  — in  the  course  of  which  dispute,  the  principal  arguments 
on  both  sides  were  produced  toAvards  settling  that  critical  point. 

The  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  was  then  conferred  on  the  candidates. 
Then  the  following  gentlemen  (graduated  in  other  colleges)  at  their  own 
request  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  in  the  Arts  ;  namely,  Rev. 
Edward  Upham,  Rev.  Morgan  Edwards,  Rev.  Samuel  Stillman,  Rev. 
Hezekiah  Smith,  Hon.  Joseph  Wanton  Jun.  Esq.,  Mr.  Jabez  Bowen,  and 
Mr.  David  Howell,  Professor  of  Philosophy  in  said  college. 

The  following  gentlemen,  being  well  recommended  by  the  Faculty  for 
literary  merit,  had  conferred  on  them  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  in 
the  Arts ;  namely,  Rev.  Abel  Morgan,  Rev.  Oliver  Hart,  Rev.  David 
Thomas,  Rev.  Samuel  Jones,  Mr.  John  Davis,  Mr.  Robert  Strettlc  Jones, 
Mr.  John  Stites,  Rev.  James  Bryson,  Rev.  James  Edwards,  Rev.  Wil 
liam  Boulton,  Rev.  John  Ryland,  Rev.  William  Clark,  Rev.  Joshua 
Toulmin,  and  Rev.  Caleb  Evans. 

A  concise,  pertinent,  and  solemn  charge  was  then  given  to  the  Bache 
lors  by  the  President,  concluding  with  his  last  paternal  benediction,  which 
naturally  introduced  the  valedictory  orator,  Mr.  Thompson,  who,  after 
some  remarks  upon  the  excellences  of  the  oratorial  art,  and  expressions 
of  gratitude  to  the  patrons  and  officers  of  the  college,  together  with  a  val 
ediction  to  them,  and  all  present,  took  a  most  affectionate  leave  of  his 
classmates.  The  scene  was  tender,  the  subject  felt,  and  the  audience 
affected. 

The  President  concluded  the  exercises  with  prayer.  The  Avhole  was 
conducted  with  a  propriety  and  solemnity  suitable  to  the  occasion.  The 
audience  (consisting  of  the  principal  gentlemen  and  ladies  of  this  colony, 
and  many  from  the  neighboring  governments),  though  large  and  crowded, 
behaved  with  the  utmost  decorum. 

In  the  evening,  the  Rev.  Morgan  Edwards,  by  particular  request, 
8* 


MANNING   AND  CHAP.  II. 

preached  a  sermon,1  especially  addressed  to  the  graduates  and  students, 
from  Phil.  iii.  8 :  "  Yea,  doubtless,  and  I  count  all  things  but  loss  for  the 
excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord  ;  "  in  which  (after 
high  encomiums  on  the  liberal  arts  and  sciences)  the  superior  knowledge 
of  the  knowledge  of  Christ,  or  the  Christian  science,  was  clearly  and  fully 
illustrated  in  several  striking  examples  and  similes  ;  one  of  which  follows  : 
"  When  the  sun  is  below  the  horizon,  the  stars  excel  in  glory  ;  but  when 
his  orb  irradiates  our  hemisphere,  their  glory  dwindles,  fades  away,  and 
disappears." 

Not  only  the  candidates,  but  even  the  President,  were  dressed  in 
American  manufactures.  Finally,  be  it  observed,  that  this  class  are  the 
first  sons  of  that  college  which  has  existed  for  more  than  four  years ;  during 
all  which  time  it  has  labored  under  great  disadvantages,  notwithstanding 
the  warm  patronage  and  encouragement  of  many  worthy  men  of  fortune 
and  benevolence  ;  and  it  is  hoped,  from  the  disposition  which  many  dis 
covered  on  that  day,  and  other  favorable  circumstances,  that  these  disad 
vantages  will  soon,  in  part,  be  happily  removed. 

Mr.  Edwards,  to  whose  labors  in  behalf  of  the  college 
we  have  already  referred,  set  out  for  Europe  in  February, 
1767,  and  returned  in  1769,  having  been  absent  about  two 
years.  The  amount  which  he  obtained,  and  which  was 
afterwards  invested  in  a  permanent  fund  for  the  payment 
of  the  President's  salary,  was  £888  10s.  2d.  sterling. 
This  was  truly  a  noble  benefaction,  considering  the  value 
of  money  at  that  period,  and  greatly  encouraged  the  friends 
of  the  institution.  The  original  subscription-book,  contain 
ing  the  names  of  the  subscribers  in  their  own  hand- writing, 
was  presented  to  the  Library  in  the  year  1849,  by  Mr.  Joshua 
Edwards,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Morgan  Edwards.  He  was 
then  living,  being  at  the  time  upwards  of  eighty  years  of 

1  The  custom,  thus  inaugurated  by  Morgan  Edwards,  of  having  a  sermon 
preached  on  Commencement  occasions,  was  continued  down  to  the  beginning 
of  Dr.  Waylaud's  administration  in  1828,  when  the  "  President's  Levee  "  took  the 
place  of  the  "  Commencement  Sermon."  The  usual  preachers  on  these  occasions, 
were  Drs.  Stillman  and  Smith,  and,  in  later  years,  Dr.  Baldwin. 


1764-1769.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  01 

age.  Among  the  subscribers  thus  obtained  to  the  first 
funds  of  the  college,  we  notice  the  names  of  our  own  coun 
trymen,  Benjamin  Franklin  and  Benjamin  West,  both  re 
siding  in  London  at  this  time ;  Thomas  Llewelyn,  LL.D., 
the  distinguished  Cambro-British  scholar ;  Samuel  Roffey, 
Esq.,  whose  name  appears  upon  the  earliest  records  of  the 
corporation  as  a  benefactor  of  the  college ;  Rev.  Dr.  Sam 
uel  Stennett ;  Thomas  Penn  ;  Rev.  Dr.  A.  Gifford,  for  many 
years  sub-librarian  at  the  British  Museum  ;  Thomas  Hollis 
and  Timothy  Hollis,  the  well-known  benefactors  of  Harvard 
College  ;  and  Rev.  Dr.  Gill,  author  of  "  Exposition  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testaments,"  a  work  published  in  nine  folio 
volumes. 

Mr.  Edwards,  speaking  a  few  years  afterwards  of  these 
his  efforts  to  collect  funds  .for  the  college,  says  that  he 
"succeeded  pretty  well,  considering  how  angry  the  mother 
country  then  was  with  the  colonies  for  opposing  the  Stamp 
Act." 

The  following  brief  biographies  of  several  members  of 
the  class,  who  more  particularly  distinguished  themselves 
in  public  life,  may  very  appropriately  close  this  chapter. 

WILLIAM   ROGERS. 

If,  among  her  "  first  fruits,"  Trinity  College  of  Dublin 
may  boast  of  her  Archbishop  Usher,  and  Harvard  Univer 
sity  of  her  Dr.  Woodbridge,  Brown  University  may,  with 
equal  reason  and  propriety,  boast  of  her  Dr.  Rogers,  as  the 
first  student  who  enrolled  his  name  upon  her  records,  and 
as  one  whose  character  and  life  reflect  the  highest  honor 
alike  upon  his  revered  instructor  and  the  institution  over 
which  he  presided. 

William,  the  second  son  of  Capt.  William  and  Sarah 


92  MANNING   AND 


CHAP.  II. 


Rogers,  was  bora  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  on  the  22d  of  July, 
1751.  Having  finished  a  preparatory  course  of  study  un 
der  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Aaron  Hutchinson,  a  Congrega 
tional  minister  of  Grafton,  Mass.,  he,  at  the  early  age  of 
fourteen,  entered  Rhode  Island  College,  over  which  Dr. 
Manning  had  just  been  appointed  President.  In  the  year 
1770,  while  engaged  in  teaching  in  his  native  city,  he  be 
came  personally  interested  in  religion,  and  was  baptized 
by  the  Rev.  Gardner  Thurston,  and  received  as  a  member 
of  the  Second  Baptist  Church,  by  prayer  and  the  imposition 
of  hands.  This  latter  fact  is  mentioned,  as  an  illustration 
of  the  views  that  prevailed  in  many  of  the  Rhode  Island 
churches  in  reference  to  this  point.  Soon  afterwards,  he 
removed  from  his  native  city  to  Philadelphia,  where,  on 
the  31st  of  May,  1772,  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Baptist 
church.  The  sermon  on  the  occasion  was  preached  by  the 
Rev.  Isaac  Eaton,  from  the  words,  "  And  who  is  sufiicient 
for  these  things  ?  "  It  proved  to  be  the  last  sermon  that 
Mr.  Eaton  ever  preached,  while  the  text  was  the  basis  of 
Mr.  Rogers'  first  discourse.  During  the  three  years  that 
Mr.  Rogers  continued  his  pastoral  relations,  the  church 
appears  to  have  been  greatly  prospered,  and  the  congre 
gation  largely  increased.  Among  his  hearers,  whom  his 
eloquence  attracted,  was  the  celebrated  Dr.  Rush,  who 
afterwards,  it  is  stated,  became  an  adherent  of  the  Rev. 
Elhanan  Winchester. 

During  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  Dr.  Rogers  held 
important  offices,  as  chaplain  of  the  forces  appointed  by 
Pennsylvania  for  the  defence  of  the  State,  and  also  as 
chaplain  of  a  brigade  in  the  Continental  army.  His  rela 
tions  with  the  prominent  actors  of  the  Revolution  were 
intimate,  and  he  enjoyed  in  a  high  degree  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  the  commanding  general.  He  was  an  hon- 


1764-1769.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


93 


ored  member  of  the   Masonic  fraternity,  and  frequently 
addressed  them  on  public  occasions.     In  the  year  1789,  he 
was  appointed  Professor  of  Oratory  and  Belles-lettres  in 
the  College  and  Academy  of  Philadelphia,  and  in  1792  he 
was  elected  to  the  same  office  in  the  University  of  Penn 
sylvania.    His  last  years  were  spent  in  dignified  retirement, 
and  in  the  cultivation  of  pious  and  devout  feelings.     He 
died   in  Philadelphia,  April  7,  1824,  universally  beloved 
and  lamented.     As  an  instance  of  the  general  estimation 
in  which  he  was  held  as  a  preacher,  it  may  be  stated,  that, 
at  one  time,  during  the  year  1782,  he  received  invitations 
from  three  very  important  churches,  and  of  as  many  dif 
ferent  denominations,  in  the  States  of  Rhode  Island,  Con 
necticut,  and  Maryland,  either  to  supply  the  pulpit  steadily, 
or  to  settle  as  pastor.     One  of  these  invitations  was  from 
the  Episcopal  church  of  St.  John's  in  Providence.     The 
invitation  was  given,  of  course,  with  a  proviso,  as  will  be 
seen  by  a  reference  to  Updike's  History  of  the  Narraganset 
Church. 

A  fine  picture  of  Dr.  Rogers,  executed  by  his  only  sur 
viving  daughter,  Miss  Eliza  J.  Rogers,  has  recently  been 
added  to  the  collection  of  portraits  in  Rhode  Island  Hall. 
It  is  copied  from  an  original  portrait  by  Rembrandt  Peale, 
taken  in  the  year  1795,  when  the  subject  was  in  the  prime 
and  vigor  of  life. 

In  Evans's  Life  of  Richards  occurs  the  following  pleasant 
account  of  Dr.  Rogers,  as  given  by  an  English  gentleman, 
in  a  letter  dated  New  York,  June  25,  1793.  The  writer 
was  travelling  through  the  country  with  a  view  to  final 
settlement.  The  extract  serves  to  illustrate  Rogers's  social 
character,  and  also  gives  an  agreeable  view  of  Gen.  Wash 
ington  in  his  private  relations. 


•MANNING    AND  CHAP.  II. 

"  After  travelling  through  an  extreme  pleasant  country,  \vc  arrived  at 
Philadelphia,  and  waited  on  Dr.  Rogers.  Dr.  Rogers  is  a  most  entertain 
ing  and  agreeable  man,  and  received  your  letter  with  much  pleasure. 
We  were  with  him  a  great  part  of  the  time  we  remained  in  the  city,  and 
were  introduced  by  him  to  Gen.  Washington.  The  General  was  not  at 
home  when  we  called,  but,  while  we  were  talking  with  his  private  secre 
tary  in  the  hall,  he  came  in,  and  spoke  to  Dr.  Rogers  with  the  greatest 
ease  and  familiarity.  He  immediately  asked  us  up  into  the  drawing-room, 
where  was  Lady  Washington  and  his  two  nieces.  When  we  were  seated, 
the  General  called  for  wine  and  cake,  of  which  we  partook,  he  drinking  our 
'  health,  and  wishing  us  success  in  all  our  undertakings.'  The  General 
asked  us  a  number  of  questions  respecting  the  situation  of  things  in 
Europe,  to  all  which  we  answered,  you  may  be  sure,  in  our  best  manner. 
It  is  his  general  custom  to  say  little  ;  but  on  this  occasion  we  understood 
he  was  more  than  usually  talkative.  He  made  one  remark,  which,  un 
der  the  circumstances  in  which  it  was  delivered,  has  a  peculiar  energy, 
— '  that  we  had  chosen  a  happy  country,  and  one  large  enough  ! '  After 
sitting  about  half  an  hour,  we  retired,  highly  gratified  with  having  con 
versed  with  ihejirst  character  of  the  age." 

Dr.  Rogers  was  of  the  middle  size,  and  in  his  habits  and 
manners  was  more  than  ordinarily  refined.  In  seasons  of 
relaxation,  he  was  agreeably  facetious.  He  was  very  active, 
and  walked  with  the  agility  of  youth,  until  within  a  few 
weeks  of  his  decease.  The  light  and  beauty  of  his  charac 
ter  were  especially  manifest  in  the  circle  of  his  family,  by 
the  members  of  whom  he  was  almost  worshipped.  He  was 
twice  married.  His  first  wife,  a  daughter  of  William  Gard 
ner,  of  Philadelphia,  died  Oct.  10, 1793,  of  the  yellow  fever, 
at  that  time  prevalent.  The  following  extract  from  a  letter 
dated  Philadelphia,  Dec.  9,  1793,  and  addressed  to  the 
Rev.  William  Button,  of  London,  is  in  reference  to  this 
event.  The  letter,  with  an  engraved  likeness  of  the  au 
thor,  was  first  published  in  London,  in  the  New  Baptist 
Magazine  for  1825. 


1701-1769.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  95 

Before  this  reaches  you,  you  will  probably  have  heard  of  the  irrepara 
ble  loss  I  have  met  with  in  the  death  of  my  dear  and  lovely  Mrs.  Rogers. 
She  died  during  the  prevalence  of  the  awful  epidemic  with  which  our 
city  was  lately  visited.  I  enclose  you  a  paper  which  contains  a  short  ac 
count  of  her  exit.  It  is  needless  for  me  to  enlarge  on  this  mournful  vis 
itation,  having  by  the  William  Penn,  which  sailed  ten  or  twelve  days 
ago,  forwarded  for  Dr.  Rippon's  Register  a  concise  narrative  of  her  life 
and  bodily  dissolution.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  as  she  lived,  so  she  died,  a 
uniform  and  sincere  Christian.  But  oh  !  my  rebellious  heart  cannot  yet 
submit.  Dear  brother,  pray  for  me,  that  while  I  mourn,  I  may  not  mur 
mur.  Had  you  known  her  worth,  you  would  not  blame  me.  She  was  — 
I  must  desist ;  my  swelling  breast  forbids  my  proceeding.  I  am  a  poor 
lonely  creature  !  The  week  following  her  decease,  I  was  taken  down  with 
the  fever  myself,  and  anticipated  a  speedy  and  eternal  union  with  my 
dear  departed  wife,  and  other  saints  in  glory.  The  dark  valley  began  to 
assume  the  appearance  of  a  flowered  path  ;  but,  contrary  to  my  own  and 
the  expectations  of  all  my  neighbors  and  attendants,  I  was  summoned 
back  into  life  ;  being  snatched,  as 'it  were,  from  the  very  brink  of  the  grave. 
Jehovah  grant  that  my  future  days  may  be  more  zealously  devoted  to  the 
service  of  our  Redeemer  Jesus  than  my  past  has  ever  been.  My  only 
son,  who  was  my  constant  nurse  by  day  and  night,  providentially  escaped 
the  dire  contagion  ;  so  that  your  afflicted  brother  can  and  ought  to  sing  of 
mercy  as  well  as  of  judgment. 

Wishing  you,  Mrs.  Button,  and  the  whole  family,  health  and  happiness, 
I  subscribe  myself,  reverend  and  dear  sir, 

Your  afflicted  brother, 

WILLIAM  ROGERS. 

On  the  15th  of  Jan.,  1795,  he  was  married  to  Susannah 
Marsh,  daughter  of  Joseph  Marsh,  of  Philadelphia.  The 
following  letter  to  his  friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hezekiah  Smith, 
refers  to  his  second  marriage,  and  also  to  the  death  of  the 
Rev.  Morgan  Edwards,  whose  funeral  sermon  he  published 
by  special  request :  — 

PHILADELPHIA,  April  14,  1795. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

A  combination  of  causes  has  prevented  my  addressing  you  for  some 
time  past.  It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  once  more  resume  my  pen  to  inform 
you  of  my  welfare,  etc. 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  II. 

Your  favors  of  April  13  and  Aug.  22  last  were  duly  received,  for  both 
of  which  accept  my  thanks.  You  complain  of  my  not  writing  to  you. 
On  this  head  I  have  only  to  say,  that,  previous  to  your  two  last,  you  were 
in  my  debt ;  and  as  you  do  not  mention  a  small  packet  I  sent  you,  I  am 
very  fearful  that  it  miscarried.  Before  this,  I  dare  say,  you  have  heard  of 
my  having  once  more  formed  a  matrimonial  connection.  My  present 
wife,  like  my  former  one,  is  a  good  religious  Baptist.  She  is  a  worthy 
member  of  our  church,  and  peculiarly  well  calculated,  should  God  spare 
her  life,  of  rendering  me  much  assistance,  both  in  my  temporal  and  spirit 
ual  progress.  You  see  by  this  that  I  have  married  in  the  Lord.  Our 
union  took  place  on  the  15th  of  January ;  and  we  join  in  soliciting  an  inter 
est  in  your  prayers.  She  is  at  present  confined  with  an  intermitting  fever, 
though  much  better  to-day  than  she  was  yesterday.  You  must  also  have 
heard  of  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Morgan  Edwards.  He  died  Jan.  28.  At 
his  own  request  I  preached  his  funeral  sermon,  from  2  Cor.  vi.  8.  The 
congregation  was  numerous  and  attentive. 

We  are  at  peace  in  our  church  and  congregation,  but  there  is  nothing 
remarkable  among  us  of  a  religious  kind.  Yet  we  are  not  without  en 
couragement.  There  is  considerable  solemnity  in  our  place  of  public 
worship,  and  a  few  instances  of  serious  inquirers.  The  French  go  on 
gloriously.  Surely  the  Lord  will  in  his  own  appointed  time  shower  grace 
upon  his  people  universally,  and  build  up  the  walls  of  his  Jerusalem. 

I  must  conclude,  but  not  without  assuring  you  that  my  most  fervent 
supplications  shall  not  cease  for  the  preservation  and  long  continuance  of 
your  valuable  life.  My  son,  through  mercy,  is  well.  Mrs.  Rogers  joins 
in  affectionate  regards  to  self  and  dear  Mrs.  Smith. 

Yours,  in  a  precious  Saviour, 

WILLIAM  ROGERS. 

JAMES   MITCHELL   VAKNTJM. 

Hon.  James  Mitchell  Yarnum  was  born  in  Dracut, 
Mass.,  in  the  year  1749.  At  the  time  of  his  graduation  he 
was  twenty  years  of  age.  While  a  student  he  developed  a 
remarkable  capacity  for  learning,  and,  although  somewhat 
dissipated  in  his  habits,  made  liberal  acquisitions  in  gen 
eral  knowledge  and  literature.  He  was  especially  attached 
to  mathematical  science,  and  delighted  in  its  pursuit.  Af- 


1764-1769.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  97 

ter  leaving  college  he  taught  a  classical  school,  and  to 
this  period  of  his  life  he  ever  afterwards  referred  as  a 
season  of  special  benefit.  In  the  year  1771  he  was  admit 
ted  to  the  bar,  having  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Oliver 
Arnold,  Esq.,  then  the  Attorney  General  of  the  colony. 
Soon  afterwards  he  established  himself  in  the  town  of 
East  Greenwich,  where  he  rapidly  rose  to  distinction  in 
his  profession  ;  his  great  talents  securing  for  him  an  exten 
sive  practice.  The  following  extract  from  the  "  Memoirs 
of  Elkanah  Watson,  or  Men  and  Times  of  the  Revolution," 
presents  a  pleasing  description  of  his  powers  of  eloquence 
at  this  period :  — 

"Mr.  Varnum  was  one  of  the  most  eminent  lawyers  and 
distinguished  orators  in  the  colonies.  I  first  saw  this  learned 
and  amiable  man  in  1774,  when  I  heard  him  deliver  a  Ma 
sonic  oration.  Until  that  moment  I  had  formed  no  concep 
tion  of  the  power  and  charms  of  oratory.  I  was  so  deeply 
impressed,  that  the  effect  of  his  splendid  exhibition  has  re 
mained  for  forty-eight  years  indelibly  fixed  upon  my  rnind. 
I  then  compared  his  mind  to  a  beautiful  parterre,  from 
which  he  was  enabled  to  pluck  the  most  gorgeous  and 
fanciful  flowers,  in  his  progress,  to  enrich  and  embellish 
his  subject.  Lavater  would  have  pronounced  him  an  or 
ator,  from  the  vivid  flashing  of  his  eye  and  the  delicate 
beauty  of  his  classic  mouth." 

Mr.  Varnum  had  a  decided  taste  for  military  life,  and  in 
1774  was  appointed  commander  of  the  "  Kentish  Guards," 
a  company  which,  from  their  acquirements  in  military 
tactics,  became  the  nursery  of  many  distinguished  officers 
during  the  Revolutionary  War.  Among  them  may  be 
mentioned  Major  Whitmarsh,  Col.  Christopher  Greene, 
and  Rhode  Island's  greatest  general,  Nathanael  Greene, 
who  was  second  only  to  Washington,  The  prominent 
9 


MANNING   AND  CHAP.  II 

part  which  Varnum  had  taken  in  the  colonial  controversy 
induced  him,  upon  the  breaking  out  of  hostilities,  to  offer 
his  services  to  the  Government.  He  was  at  first  a  colonel 
in  the  American  army,  but  in  Feb.,  1777,  Congress  promo 
ted  him  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general.  He  continued  in 
the  army  several  years,  and  saw  some  service,  commanding 
a  brigade  in  Sullivan's  expedition  on  Rhode  Island.  He  was 
a  good  disciplinarian,  and  invaluable  in  council.  He  wielded 
a  vigorous  pen,  commanding  a  rich  flow  of  eloquence,  em 
bellished  by  the  ornaments  and  graces  of  rhetoric. 

While  in  command  at  Taunton,  he  addressed  an  admi 
rable  letter  to  the  chief  officer  of  the  Hessians  in  Rhode 
Island,  and  sent  it  in  by  a  flag.  The  letter  was  a  tran 
script  of  his  views  on  the  great  controversy  with  England, 
and  was  considered  an  able  argument  on  the  subject.  It 
was  subsequently  published  in  England,  and  reflected 
much  credit  on  the  author.  In  1779  he  resigned  his  com 
mission,  and  returned  to  his  former  profession.  The  Leg 
islature,  in  consideration  of  his  national  services,  and  the 
more  effectually  to  secure  them  in  defence  of  the  State, 
elected  him  Major-General  of  the  Militia  of  Rhode  Island, 
an  oflice  to  which  he  was  annually  reflected  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  In  1780  he  was  appointed  a  dele 
gate  to  the  Congress  of  the  Confederation,  and  again  in 
1786.  As  that  body  sat  with  closed  doors,  his  voice  could 
not  be  heard  by  the  public ;  but  his  name  often  appears  in 
the  published  journals  of  the  proceedings. 

The  great  forensic  effort  of  Gen.  Varnum  was  in  the 
celebrated  case  of  Trevett  against  Weeden,  in  the  fall  of 
the  year  1786.  The  General  Assembly,  at  its  May  session, 
with  a  wilful  blindness  unparalleled  in  the  annals  of  civiliza 
tion,  had  emitted  the  enormous  sum  of  £100.000  in  paper 
bills,  making  them  ua  good  and  lawful  tender  for  the  com- 


1751-1769.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  99 

plete  payment  and  final  discharge  of  all  fines,  forfeitures, 
judgments,  and  executions  of  every  kind  and  nature  what 
soever."  They  also  passed  acts  making  it  criminal  to 
refuse  said  bills  in  exchange  for  articles  of  merchandise, 
and  depriving  their  opponents  of  the  sacred  palladium  of 
Britons,  the  trial  by  jury,  and  furthermore  rendering  them, 
even  though  freemen,  ineligible  to  any  office.  In  the  case 
referred  to,  John  Trevett,  of  Newport,  had  purchased  meat 
of  John  "Weeden,  a  butcher,  and  tendered  to  him  bills  of 
the  emission  of  the  May  session  of  the  Legislature  in  pay 
ment  ;  which  bills  Weeden  refused.  Whereupon  a  com 
plaint  was  made  and  filed,  in  accordance  with  the  acts  of  the 
General  Assembly,  before  Paul  Mumford,  Chief  Justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court.  The  court  consisted  of  Paul  Mumford, 
Chief  Justice,  and  Joseph  Hazard,  Thomas  Tillinghast,  and 
David  Howell,  associates.  When  the  case  came  up  for  trial, 
the  whole  public  was  in  a  state  of  feverish  excitement.  The 
merchant  closed  his  store,  the  farmers  left  their  fields,  the 
mechanic  his  workship,  and  all  congregated  in  and  around 
the  courthouse  to  await  the  final  issue.  If  the  complaint 
was  sustained,  then  would  they  be  prostrated  in  utter  ruin, 
and  the  commerce  and  business  of  the  State  be  effectually 
destroyed.  Yarnum  proved  himself  equal  to  this  emer 
gency.  By  his  resistless  eloquence  he  stemmed  the  tide  of 
power  and  misrule,  and  successfully  vindicated  the  claims 
of  equity  and  justice.  The  court  adjudged  that  the  amend 
ed  acts  of  the  Legislature  were  unconstitutional,  and  so 
void.  The  tyranny  of  the  demagogues  was  thus  over 
thrown,  and  the  State  was  saved. 

In  the  year  1787,  Gen.  Varnurn  was  appointed  by  Con 
gress  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Northwestern  Territory,  and 
in  the  following  spring  entered  upon  his  duties.  But  dis 
ease  had  enfeebled  his  body,  and  his  race  was  nearly  run. 


100  MANNING  AND 


CHAP.  II. 


He  died  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  on  the  10th  of  January,  1789, 
at  the  early  age  of  forty.  His  funeral  was  conducted 
with  great  solemnity  and  respect.  A  long  procession  of 
mourners  — private  citizens,  civil  and  military  officers,  gen 
tlemen  of  the  Order  of  Cincinnati,  and  Free  Masons  — fol 
lowed  his  remains  to  the  grave. 

Early  in  life  Gen.  Varnum  married  Martha,  the  eldest 
daughter  of  Cromcl  Child,  of  Warren,  a  most  estimable 
lady,  whose  acquaintance  he  had  formed  while  prosecuting 
his  college  studies.  She  survived  her  husband  forty-eight 
years,  dying  at  Bristol,  without  issue,  Oct.  10,  1837,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-eight.  The  following  affectionate 
and  interesting  letter,  addressed  to  Mrs.  Varnum. in  the 
autumn  of  1788,  shows  the  religious  views  and  feelings  of 
the  writer  in  a  pleasing  light,  and  affords  good  evidence 
that  he  died  in  the  full  assurance  of  a  blessed  immortality, 
notwithstanding  the  sceptical  and  philosophical  opinions 
in  which  he  had  previously  indulged.  The  letter  was  first 
published  in  the  Massachusetts  Magazine  for  November, 
1790,  with  the  following  note  from  the  author's  friend  and 
early  instructor  prefixed  :  — 

To  THE  EDITORS,  etc. : 

GENTLEMEN  :  —  From  a  full  conviction  that  the  enclosed  letter  from  the 
late  Gen.  Varnum  to  his  most  amiable  lady  (written  a  few  days  before 
his  departure  from  this  distempered  state  of  being)  will  give  pleasure  to 
every  feeling  heart,  I  have  obtained  leave  to  present  it  to  your  numerous 
readers. 

I  am,  with  respectful  esteem,  yours,  etc., 

JAMES  MANNING. 

MY    DEAREST    AND    MOST   ESTIMABLE    FRIEND   : 

I  now  write  from  my  sick-chamber;  and  perhaps  it  will  be  the  last  letter 
that  you  will  receive  from  me.  My  lungs  are  so  far  affected  that  it  is  im 
possible  for  me  to  recover  but  by  exchange  of  air  and  a  wanner  climate.  I 


1704-1769.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  101 

expect  to  leave  this  place  on  Sunday  or  Monday  next  for  the  Falls  of  the 
Ohio.  If  I  feel  myself  mend  by  the  tour,  I  shall  go  no  further ;  but  if 
not,  and  if  my  health  should  continue,  I  expect  to  proceed  to  New  Or 
leans,  and  from  thence  by  the  West  Indies  to  Rhode  Island.  My  physi 
cians,  most  of  them,  think  the  chances  of  recovery  in  my  favor.  However, 
I  am  neither  elevated  nor  depressed  by  the  force  of  opinion,  but  shall 
meet  my  fate  with  humility  and  fortitude. 

I  cannot  but  indulge  the  hope  that  I  shall  again  embrace  my  lovely 
friend  in  this  world,  and  that  we  may  glide  smoothly  down  the  tide  of 
time  for  a  few  years,  and  enjoy  together  the  more  substantial  happiness 
and  satisfaction,  as  we  have  had  already  the  desirable  pleasures,  of  life. 

It  is  now  almost  nineteen  years  since  Heaven  connected  us  by  the  ten- 
derest  and  the  most  sacred  ties,  and  it  is  the  same  length  of  time  that  our 
friendship  hath  been  increased  by  every  rational  and  endearing  motive  ;  it 
is  now  stronger  than  death,  and  I  am  firmly  persuaded  will  follow  us  into 
an  existence  of  never-ending  felicity.  But,  my  lovely  friend,  the  gloomy 
moment  will  arrive  when  we  must  part ;  and  should  it  arrive  during  our 
present  separation,  my  last  and  only  reluctant  thoughts  will  be  employed 
about  my  dearest  Martha.  Life,  my  dearest  friend,  is  but  a  bubble  :  it 
soon  hursts,  and  is  remitted  to  eternity.  When  we  look  back  to  the  earliest 
recollections  of  our  youthful  hours,  it  seems  but  the  last  period  of  our  rest, 
and  we  appear  to  emerge  from  a  night  of  slumbers  to  look  forward  to  real 
existence.  When  we  look  forward,  time  appears  as  indeterminate  as 
eternity,  and  we  have  no  idea  of  its  termination  but  by  the  period  of  our 
dissolution.  What  particular  relation  it  bears  to  a  future  state,  our  general 
notions  of  religion  cannot  point.  We  feel  something  constantly  active 
within  us,  that  is  evidently  beyond  the  reach  of  mortality  ;  but  whether  it 
is  a  part  of  ourselves,  or  an  emanation  from  the  pure  Source  of  existence, 
or  reabsorbed  when  death  shall  have  finished  his  work,  human  wisdom 
cannot  determine  ;  whether  the  demolition  of  the  body  introduces  only  a 
change  in  the  manner  of  our  being,  or  leaves  it  to  progress  infinitely,  al 
ternatively  elevated  and  depressed  according  to  the  propriety  of  our  con 
duct,  or  whether  we  return  to  the  common  mass  of  unthinking  matter, 
philosophy  hesitates  to  decide. 

I  know,  therefore,  but  one  source  from  whence  can  be  derived  complete 
consolation  in  a  dying  hour,  and  that  is  the  divine  system  contained  in 
the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  There  life  and  immortality  are  brought  to 
light,  —  there  we  are  taught  our  existence  is  to  be  eternal ;  and,  secure  in 
an  interest  in  the  atoning  merits  of  a  bleeding  Saviour,  that  we  shall  be 
9* 


102  MANNING  AND  CHAP.  II. 

inconceivably  happy.  A  firm  and  unshaken  faith  in  this  doctrine  must 
raise  us  above  the  doubts  and  fears  that  hang  upon  every  other  system, 
and  enable  us  to  view  with  a  calm  serenity  the  approach  of  the  king  of 
terrors,  and  to  behold  him  as  a  kind  and  indulgent  friend,  spending  his 
shafts  only  to  carry  us  the  sooner  to  our  everlasting  home.  But  should 
there  be  a  more  extensive  religion  beyond  the  veilj  and  without  the  reach 
of  mortal  observation,  the  Christian  religion  is  by  no  means  shaken 
thereby,  as  it  is  not  opposed  to  any  principle  that  admits  of  the  perfect  be 
nevolence  of  Deity.  My  only  doubt  is,  whether  the  punishment  threat 
ened  in  the  New  Testament  is  annexed  to  a  state  of  unbelief  which  may 
be  removed  hereafter,  and  so  restoration  take  place,  or  whether  the  state 
of  the  mind  at  death  irretrievably  fixes  its  doom  forever.  I  hope  and 
pray  that  the  Divine  Spirit  will  give  me  such  assurances  of  an  acceptance 
with  God,  through  the  merits  and  sufferings  of  his  Son,  as  to  brighten  the 
way  to  immediate  happiness. 

Dry  up  your  tears,  my  charming  mourner,  nor  suffer  this  letter  to  give 
too  much  inquietude.  -Consider  the  facts  at  present  as  in  theory,  but  the 
sentiments  such  as  will  apply  whenever  the  change  shall  come. 

I  know  that  humanity  must  and  will  be  indulged  in  its  keenest  grief; 
but  there  is  no  advantage  in  too  deeply  anticipating  our  inevitable  sorrows. 
If  I  did  not  persuade  myself  that  you  would  conduct  with  becoming  pru 
dence  and  fortitude  upon  this  occasion,  my  own  unhappincss  would  be 
greatly  increased,  and  perhaps  my  disorder  too;  but  I  have  so  much  confi 
dence  in  your  discretion  as  to  unbosom  my  inmost  soul. 

You  must  not  expect  to  hear  from  me  again  until  the  coming  spring,  as 
the  river  will  soon  be  shut  with  ice,  and  there  will  be  no  communication 
from  below ;  if  in  a  situation  for  the  purpose,  I  will  return  as  soon  as 
practicable. 

Give  my  sincerest  love  to  those  you  hold  dear.  I  hope  to  see  them 
again,  and  love  them  more  than  ever.  Adieu,  my  dearest  friend.  And 
while  I  fervently  devote  in  one  undivided  prayer  our  immortal  souls  to 
the  care,  forgiveness,  mercy,  and  all-prevailing  grace  of  Heaven,  in  time 
and  through  eternity,  I  must  bid  you  a  long,  long,  long  farewell. 

JAMES  M.  VARNUM. 


1764-1769.  BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  103 


CHAELES   THOMPSON". 

The  Rev.  Charles  Thompson,  valedictorian  of  the  class, 
was  born  at  Amwell,  ST.  J.,  on  the  14th  of  April,  1748. 
Before  graduating  he  had  already  commenced  preaching. 
Upon  the  removal  of  President  Manning  to  Providence,  the 
church  at  Warren  were  left  without  a  minister,  and  Thomp 
son  was  accordingly  invited  to  preach  to  them  with  a 
view  to  settlement.  The  following  year  he  was  ordained 
as  pastor  of  the  church,  being  at  this  time  twenty-three 
years  of  age.  His  labors  in  the  ministry  were  attended 
with  a  rich  blessing ;  so  that  during  the  four  years  of  his 
continuance  at  Warren,  the  membership  of  the  church  was 
nearly  doubled.  But  when  the  war  of  the  Revolution 
broke  out,  its  sad  effects  were  specially  visible  among  his 
people.  He  was  at  once  appointed  a  chaplain  in  the  Amer 
ican  army,  which  office  he  held  till  1778,  a  period  of  three 
years.  While  at  home  on  a  visit,  the  English  troops  came 
up  to  Warren,  and  on  the  morning  of  May  25,  1778,  burned 
the  meeting-house,  parsonage,  arsenal,  and  several  private 
dwellings,  and  carried  away  Mr.  Thompson  as  a  prisoner.  He 
was  confined  at  Newport ;  but  in  about  a  month  he  was 
released,  by  what  means  he  never  knew.  He  afterwards 
preached  at  Ashford,  Ct.,  until  1779,  when  he  became  pastor 
of  the  church  in  Swanzey.  During  his  ministry  of  twenty- 
three  years  at  this  latter  place,  there  were  several  extensive 
revivals  of  religion  :  one  immediately  after  his  settlement, 
when  seventy-five  persons  were  baptized  and  added  to 
the  church  ;  one  in  1789,  when  fifty  persons  were  baptized ; 
and  a  third  in  1800,  of  still  greater  extent,  which  resulted 
in  the  admission  to  the  church  of  a  hundred  new  members. 
He  died  in  Charlton,  Worcester  County,  Mass.,  on  the  4th 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  II. 

of  May  1803,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five.  Mr.  Thompson,  says 
his  biographer,  was  tall,  spare,  and  of  a  fine  figure.  The 
expression  of  his  countenance  was  indicative  both  of  a 
vigorous  intellect  and  an  amiable  disposition.  He  placed 
a  high  value  upon  time,  and  improved  all  his  hours  to 
good  purpose.  In  his  family  and  in  the  church  he  was  a 
model  of  kindness  combined  with  firmness.  As  a  preacher 
he  held  a  very  high  rank.  He  had  a  voice  of  great  com 
pass,  and  its  tones  were  at  once  sweet  and  commanding. 
His  sermons  were  carefully  studied,  and  were  sometimes 
written ;  but  his  manuscript  was  never  seen  in  the  pulpit, 
and  his  language  was  generally  such  as  was  supplied  to  him 
at  the  moment.  He  was  very  successful  in  the  instruction 
of  youth,  and  for  several  years  received  young  men  under 
his  care,  with  a  view  to  direct  their  education.  He  was  fully 
master  of  whatever  he  attempted  to  teach.  In  a  word,  he 
may  be  regarded  as  an  accomplished  scholar,  a  devout 
Christian,  and  a  successful  preacher.  From  the  year  1795 
until  his  death  he  was  a  Trustee  of  the  college.  The 
original  manuscript  of  his  valedictory  oration  is  still  care 
fully  preserved  among  the  archives  of  the  college  library.1 

WILLIAM    WILLIAMS. 

The  Rev.  William  Williams  was  born  in  Hilltown,  Bucks 
County,  Pa.,  in  the  year  1752.  His  father  emigrated  from 
Wales,  and  settled  in  this  country  as  a  farmer,  accumulat 
ing  a  handsome  property.  The  son  was  fitted  for  college 
at  the  Hopewell  Academy,  taught  by  the  Rev.  Isaac 
Eaton.  He  came  to  Warren  in  1766,  and  entered  the 
Sophomore  Class.  In  the  autumn  following  his  gradua 
tion,  he  was  married  to  Patience,  daughter  of  Col,  Nathan 

1  Sprague's  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit. 


1764-1769. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  105 


Miller,  of  Warren.  In  September,  1771,  he  was  baptized  by 
his  classmate,  Mr.  Thompson,  and  received  as  a  member 
of  the  church  under  his  care.  For  several  years  after 
leaving  college  he  engaged  in  teaching,  —  an  employment 
for  which  his  talents  and  inclinations  especially  qualified 
him.  In  1773,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Wrentham, 
Mass.,  where  he  opened  an  academy,  which  soon  attained 
to  high  distinction  among  the  literary  institutions  of  that 
day.  He  is  supposed  to  have  had  under  his  care  nearly 
two  hundred  youth,  about  eighty  of  whom  he  fitted  for  his 
Alma  Mater.  Not  a  few  of  these  became  distinguished 
in  professional  and  political  life  ;  among  whom  may  be 
mentioned  the  Rev.  Dr.  Maxcy,  successor  to  Manning;  the 
Hon.  David  R.  Williams,  Governor  of  South  Carolina;  and 
the  Hon.  Tristam  Burgess,  LL.  D.,  Professor  of  Oratory 
and  Belles-lettres  in  Brown  University,  and  for  many 
years  a  distinguished  Representative  in  Congress.  Mr. 
Williams  also  conducted  the  theological  studies  of  young 
men  with  a  view  to  their  entering  the  ministry.1  On  the 
3d  of  July,  1776,  he  was  publicly  ordained  as  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  church  in  Wrentham,  —  an  office  which  he  held 
for  nearly  half  a  century.  Though  strictly  evangelical  in 
his  doctrines,  he  was  not  regarded  as  a  popular  preacher. 
Quite  a  number  of  his  early  manuscript  sermons  are  among 
the  archives  of  the  college  library.  They  are  written  in 
a  plain,  legible  hand,  and  exhibit  marks  of  careful  prep 
aration.  Mr.  Williams,  says  his  biographer,  certainly  had 
the  ability  to  keep  his  church  in  a  quiet,  orderly  state,  and, 
by  a  steady  course  of  enlightened  Christian  activity,  to 
accomplish  a  great  amount  of  good  among  his  people. 
Few  men  have  contributed  more  than  he  to  the  social  and 

i  One  of  his  pupils  in  theology  was  the  lamented  William  Gammell  of  Newport, 
father  of  Professor  William  Gammell. 


106 


MANNING  AND  BROWN  UNIVERSITY.         CHAP.  II. 


intellectual  improvement  of  the  Baptist  denomination  in 
New  England.  He  died  on  the  22d  of  September,  1823, 
aged  seventy-one.  He  was  a  Fellow  of  the  college  from 
1789  to  1818.  In  1777,  when  the  college  building  was  oc 
cupied  by  the  army,  the  library  was  removed  to  Wrentham, 
and  intrusted  to  his  care  and  keeping.  Mr.  Williams  was 
twice  married.  His  first  wife,  as  already  stated,  was  a 
daughter  of  Col.  Miller,  Dr.  Manning's  colleague  in  Con 
gress.  In  1804  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Dolly  Hancock, 
of  Wrentham,  daughter  of  a  Mr.  Titus.  He  was  the  father 
of  seven  children,  several  of  whom  still  survive  him.1 

We  append  to  the  foregoing  sketch  a  copy  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liams's  "  parchment,"  which  the  curious  may  wish  to  com 
pare  with  the  diplomas  of  the  present  day  : — 

Omnibus  ad  quos  praesentes  Literae  pervenerint  salutem.  Notum  sit 
quod  Collegii  in  Anglicana  Rhodiorum  Providentiatiumque  Colonia  inter 
Nov.  Anglos  in  America  Sociorum  Ordo  Gulielmo  Williams  juveni  probo 
et  ingenuo,  in  omnibus  Humanitatis  Literarumque  Studiis  in  nostra  Acad- 
einia  institute,  et  Examine  sufficiente  previo  approbate  Baccalaurei 
Gradum  decrevit,  publicis  in  Comitiis  apud  Warren  in  Colonia  supradicta 
habitis  Die  Septimo  Septembris  Annoque  Domini  Millesimo  Septingen- 
tessimo  Sexagessimo  Nono.  In  Cujus  Rei  Testimonium  Sigillum  Collegii 
huic  Membranae  affixum  Nominaque  nostra  subscripta  sunt. 

JACOBUS  MAVNING,  Praeses. 

DAVID  HOELL,  Phil.  Professor. 

THOMAS  EYRES,  Secretary. 

1  Sprague's  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit. 


CHAPTER    III. 

1769-1770. 

Erection  of  a  College  edifice,  and  place  of  location  —  Warren.  East  Greenwich, 
Newport,  and  Providence  contend  for  the  honor  —  Meeting  of  the  Corporation 
at  Newport  in  reference  thereto  — Final  contest  between  Newport  and  Prov 
idence  —  Subscriptions  in  Newport  —Final  meeting  of  the  Corporation  on  the 
question  of  location—  Names  of  the  thirty-five  members  present  — Decision  in 
favor  of  Providence  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith  giving  a  detailed  account 
of  this  meeting  —  Proceedings  of  the  Corporation  with  reference  to  Manning's 
removal  to  Providence  —  Comparison  between  Providence  and  Newport  at 
this  time  —  Attempt  to  establish  another  college,  at  Newport  — Home-lot  of 
Chad  Brown  selected  for  the  location  of  the  College—  Plans  of  Nassau  Hall, 
Princeton,  adopted  for  the  building  — Corner-stone  laid  by  John  Brown  — 
Manning  sunders  his  connection  with  the  church  at  Warren  —  His  struggles 
of  mind  in  regard  to  duty  —  Removes  to  Providence  —Remarks  of  Prof.  God- 
dard  respecting  his  position  at  this  time  — Letter  to  Rev.    Dr.  Stennett,  of 
London  — Stennett's  reply  —  Efforts  of  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith  to  secure  funds 
for  the  College,  in  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  — Letter  from  Rev.   Oliver 
Hart  in  reference  thereto  —  Account  of  the  first  Commencement  in  Providence 
—  Letter  to  Thomas  Lapham,  of  Smithfield,  illustrating  the  early  discipline  of 
the  College  — Biographical  Sketch  of  Rev.  Isaac  Backus  — Sketch  oi  Rev.  Dr. 
Samuel  Stillman  —Sketch  of  Rev.  Dr.  Hezekiah  Smith  -  Extracts  from  Smith's 
correspondence  while  in  the  Army  —  Influence  of  the  Brown  family  upon  the 
College  —  Biographical  sketches  of  their  Ancestors:  I.  Chad  Brown;  II.  John 
Brown;  III.  James  Brown ;  IV.  James  Brown  — Biographical  sketches  of  the 
"  Four  Brothers,"  Nicholas,  Joseph,  John,  and  Moses  Brown  —  Transit  of  Ve 
nus—Destruction  of  the  schooner  Gaspee. 

AT  the  time  of  the  Commencement  at  Warren,  the  col 
lege,  says  Edwards,  "  was  for  the  most  part  friendless  and 
moneyless,  and  therefore  forlorn,  insomuch  that  an  edifice 
was  hardly  thought  of.  But  frequent  remittances  being 
made  from  England,  some  began  to  hope,  and  many  to  fear 
that  the  institution  would  come  to  something,  and  stand. 


MANNING  AND  CHAP.  in. 

Then  a  building  and  the  place  of  it  were  talked  of,  which 
opened  a  new  scene  of  troubles  and  contentions,  that  had 
well-nigh  ruined  all." 

Warren  was  at  first  selected  as  a  suitable  place  for  the 
final  location  of  the  college,  and  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  purchase  materials  for  an  edifice,  secure  a  lot,  and  so 
licit  subscriptions.  The  church  in  Warren  anticipating, 
perhaps,  the  action  of  the  corporation,  voted  that  "the 
meeting-house  in  this  town  be  and  is  for  the  use  of  the 
corporation  and  President  at  Commencement  times,  and 
oftener,  if  wanted  by  either,  only  so  as  not  to  interfere 
with  divine  worship;  provided,  that  the  college  edifice 
be  founded  and  built  in  the  county  of  Bristol ;  and  that 
the  parsonage-house  in  said  Warren  be  for  the  use  of  the 
President,  so  long  as  the  President  be  our  minister." 

But  soon  afterwards,  continues  Edwards,  "  some,  who 
were  unwilling  it  should  be  anywhere,  did  so  far  agree  as 
to  lay  aside  the  said  location,  and  propose  that  the  county 
which  should  raise  the  most  money  should  have  the  col 
lege." 

Application  having  been  made  to  the  corporation  by 
gentlemen  from  East  Greenwich  and  vicinity,  setting  forth 
that  they  had  opened  a  subscription  for  the  college,  on 
condition  that  the  edifice  be  erected  in  the  county  of  Kent, 
and  requesting  an  opportunity  for  assigning  their  reasons 
why  the  vote  of  Sept.  7th,  fixing  the  location  at  Warren 
should  be  reconsidered,  a  special  meeting  of  the  corpora 
tion  was  held  at  Newport,  on  the  14th  of  November,  1769.1 

1  Although  no  formal  action  in  reference  to  a  building  and  location  was  taken 
by  the  corporation  until  about  this  time,  it  appears  from  the  following  extract 
from  Hezekiah  Smith's  Diary,  that  subscriptions  were  secured  at  an  earlier 
period:  — 

u  Tuesday,  Sept.  3,  1765.  Went  to  Newport,  and  stayed  at  Col.  Bennet's  till 
Saturday.  Wednesday  and  Thursday  I  was  with  the  corporation,  which  sat  upon 


1769-1770. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  109 


At  this  meeting,  which  was  adjourned  from  day  to  day, 
after  a  protracted  discussion  it  was  voted  that  the  edifice 
be  at  Providence,  unless  within  six  weeks  a  larger  sub 
scription  should  be  raised  in  Newport  County,  "  superior 
to  any  now  offered."  The  main  contest  was  from  this 
time  between  Providence 'and  Newport.  The  friends  of 
the  college  who  desired  its  location  in  the  latter  place 
soon  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  subscription  amounting  to 
about  four  thousand  pounds,  lawful  money,  being  a  larger 
subscription  than  any  that  had  yet  been  obtained.1  Ac 
cordingly  a  final  meeting  on  the  subject  was  held  at  War 
ren,  on  Wednesday,  Feb.  7th,  1770. 

the  college  business,  and  was  elected  one  of  the  Fellows  of  the  college.  On 
Thursday,  5th,  Mr.  Manning  was  chosen  President.  We,  although  but  part  of 
the  corporation,  subscribed  for  the  building  and  endowing  the  college  nineteen 
hundred  and  ninety-two  dollars." 

i  The  following  is  the  heading  and  preamble  to  this  subscription,  which  we  copy 
from  an  original  paper.  Among  the  largest  subscribers  on  this  occasion  was 
Abraham  Redwood,  Esq.,  founder  of  the  "  Redwood  Library."  He  afterwards 
subscribed,  says  the  Providence  Gazette,  five  hundred  pounds  sterling  towards 
a  second  college  or  university,  which  it  was  proposed  to  erect  in  Newport. 

SUBSCRIPTIONS  FOK  THE  KHODE  ISLAND  COLLEGE. 

Whereas  the  Governor  and  Company  of  the  English  Colony  of  Rhode  Island 
and  Providence  Plantations,  in  New  England  in  America,  by  an  act  passed  at 
their  session  in  Feb.,  1764,  incorporated  certain  persons,  therein  mentioned,  into  a 
body  politic,  and  granted  them  full  power  and  ample  authority  to  found  and 
endow  a  college  or  university  in  said  colony :  And  whereas  a  sufficient  number 
of  the  persons  so  appointed  have  qualified  themselves  agreeable  to  said  act,  and 
are  taking  the  most  probable  measures  for  forming  so  useful  and  honorable  an 
institution,  which  will  necessarily  be  attended  with  considerable  expense:  We, 
therefore,  the  subscribers,  sensible  that  nothing  hath  a  greater  tendency  to  adorn 
human  nature  and  to  promote  the  true  interest  and  happiness  of  mankind  than 
useful  literature,  and  that  the  fixing  the  college  in  the  town  of  Newport  will  be 
attended  with  the  greatest  advantages  to  the  said  institution,  do,  in  considera 
tion  thereof,  each  one  for  himself,  promise  and  engage  to  give,  and  accordingly 
to  pay,  unto  Job  Bennet,  Esq.,  treasurer  of  the  said  corporation,  or  his  successor 
in  said  office,  or  order,  the  several  sums  affixed  to  our  names,  respectively,  to  be 
applied  primarily  to  the  building  a  suitable  college  edifice,  and  the  surplus  in 
such  a  manner  as  the  said  corporation  shall  think  most  conducive  to  answer 

10 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 

Thirty-five  members  of  the  corporation  were  present ; 
namely,  Trustees  (giving  their  names  as  they  stand  upon 
the  records)  —  The  Chancellor,  Hon.  Samuel  Ward  Esq., 
George  Hazard  Esq.,  Mr.  Peleg  Barker,  Rev.  Russell  Ma 
son,  Mr.  John  Warner,  Nicholas  Brown  Esq.,  Mr.  Nathan 
Spear,  Nicholas  Cook  Esq.,  Mr.  Sylvester  Childs,  Hon.  Jo- 
sias  Lyndon,  Mr.  John  Tanner,  Hon.  Joseph  Wanton  Jr., 
Mr.  Thomas  Greene,  Mr.  Joseph  Brown,  Joseph  Russell 
Esq.,  Ephraim  Bowen  Esq.,  Mr.  Edward  Thurston  Jr., 
Mr.  John  G.  Wanton,  Rev.  Gardner  Thurston,  Rev.  Sam 
uel  Winsor,  Rev.  Isaac  Backus,  Daniel  Jenckes  Esq.,  Job 
Bennet  Esq.,  James  Helme  Esq.,  Mr.  William  Brown,  Rev. 
John  Maxson,  Darius  Sessions  Esq.  —  28. 

Fellows  —  The  President,  Rev.  Edward  Upham,  Mr. 
Thomas  Eyres,  Joshua  Babcock  Esq.,  Rev.  Samuel  Still- 
man,  Henry  Ward  Esq.,  Jabez  Bowen  Jr.  Esq.  —  7. 

At  this  meeting  subscriptions  and  securities  were  finally 
offered  to  the  corporation,  from  the  town  and  county  of 
Newport,  to  the  amount  of  £4558  14s.,  lawful  money,  the 
greater  part  being  expressly  conditioned  that  the  college 
be  placed  in  said  town.  From  the  town  and  county 
of  Providence  were  offered  subscriptions  and  securities 
amounting  to  £4399  13s.  The  final  vote,  as  appears  from 
the  records,  was  as  follows  :  — 

"  Whereas  the  corporation  have  fully  heard  committees  from  the  coun 
ties  of  Newport,  Kent,  and  Bristol,  upon  their  application  for  a  repeal  of 
the  vote  of  this  corporation,  on  the  16th  day  of  November  last,  for  loca 
ting  the  college  edifice  in  the  town  of  Providence,  and  maturely  considered 
the  several  sums  offered,  and  all  the  arguments  used  by  all  the  parlies 
concerned,  and  thereupon  the  vote  being  put,  Recede  or  Not,  it  passed 
in  the  negative  —  twenty-one  votes  to  fourteen.  It  is  therefore  Resolved, 

the  ends  of  their  institution.  Provided,  nevertheless,  and  this  subscription  is 
made  upon  express  condition,  that  the  college  edifice  be  erected  in  the  said  town 
of  Newport;  otherwise  the  same  shall  be  void. 


1709-1770.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  Ill 

That  the  said  edifice  be  built  in  the  town  of  Providence,  and  there  be  con 
tinued  forever." 

We  have  thus  given  a  brief  account  of  the  location 
of  the  college,  compiled  mainly  from  the  original  records. 
The  following  letter  from  the  President  to  the  Bev. 
Hezekiah  Smith,  who  was  now  collecting  funds  for  the 
institution,  in  South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  gives  a  very 
animated  account  of  this  memorable  meeting  of  the  cor 
poration  :  — 

WARREN,  Feb.  12,  1770. 

REVEREND  SIR  :  —  Last  week  I  received  a  letter  from  you  of  the  2d  ult., 
in  which  you  inform  me  of  your  success  at  Georgia,  and  your  expectations 
from  the  South  province.  All  your  friends  here  rejoice  that  you  succeed 
so  well  in  getting  the  needful  for  the  college.  "  Great  luck  to  you/'  as 
said  Mr.  Francis  in  his  prayer.  I  thought  it  strange  that  I  had  no  letter 
by  Capt.  Durphee  from  you  or  Mr.  Hart,  as  I  wrote  by  him  to  you  both. 
Last  week  I  received  a  letter  from  Nelson,  at  Haverill,  and  he  gives  me 
a  pleasing  account  of  matters  there.  Had  not  his  modesty  forbid,  I  im 
agine  he  would  have  told  me  that  the  people  were  well  suited  with  him. 
We  had  another  meeting  of  the  corporation  last  Wednesday,  when  there 
were  thirty-five  members  present.  They  were  called  to  consider  proposals 
from  Newport  in  favor  of  setting  the  edifice  in  that  town,  as  they  had 
raised  by  subscription  £4000,  lawful  money,1  taking  in  their  unconditional 
subscription.  -  But  Providence  presented  £4280,  lawful,1  and  advantages 
superior  to  Newport  in  other  respects.  The  dispute  lasted  from  Wednes 
day  last,  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  until  the  same  hour  on  Thursday,  P.  M.  The 
matter  was  debated  with  great  spirit,  and  before  a  crowded  audience.  The 
vote  was  put,  Recede  or  Not  1  It  went  Not,  by  21  against  14.  You  asked 
me  in  your  last  whether  it  had  not  raised  a  party  in  the  government.  I 
answer  no ;  but  it  has  warmed  up  the  old  one  something  considerable.  I 
was  greatly  censured  by  people  in  Newport  for  not  joining  to  call  a  meet- 

i  The  reader  will  observe  here  a  discrepancy  between  Manning's  statement 
and  the  records.  This  we  can  only  account  for  on  the  supposition  that  Man 
ning  presents,  in  a  familiar  way,  the  general  aspect  of  the  question  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  dispute,  whereas  the  records  give  the  final  result.  It  is  evi 
dent  that  other  considerations  besides  those  of  a  pecuniary  character  determined 
the  location  of  the  college. 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 

ing  about  the  first  of  January,  and  a  great  noise  was  made  because  I 
would  not  act  contrary  to  an  express  vote  of  the  corporation  at  the  meet 
ing  on  the  10th  of  November.  But  at  our  last  meeting  the  house  gave 
me  liberty  to  attempt  a  vindication  of  my  conduct,  and  after  hearing  me 
through  in  the  matter,  they  came  to  a  vote,  nemine  contradicenle,  that  they 
saw  no  reason  why  I  should  be  blamed  in  this  matter,  and  that  they  ap 
proved  of  my  conduct.  In  the  course  of  the  debates  there  was  sometimes 
undue  warmth,  but,  upon  the  whole,  it  subsided,  and  all  parties  seemed 
much  more  unanimous  than  I  expected,  in  after  business.  Many  of  the 
gentlemen  of  Newport  said  they  had  had  a  fair  hearing,  and  had  lost  it ; 
but  their  friendship  to  the  college  remained,  and  they  would  keep  their 
places,  pay  their  money,  and  forward  to  their  utmost  the  design.  The 
college  edifice  is  to  be  on  the  same  plan  as  that  of  Princeton,  built  of  brick, 
four  stories  high,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long.  I  wish  I  had  a 
draught  to  send  you,  but  it  is  not  in  my  power.  They  determine  to  have 
the  roof  on  next  fall,  and  to  cover  it  with  slate,  as  they  are  now  able. 
Now  if  we  can  get  it  endowed,  we  shall  be  compos  voti.  This  I  hope  you 
will  in  part  accomplish.  I  have  thought  of  going  to  the  Jerseys  in  the 
spring.  If  I  should,  I  cannot  go  to  Haverill  the  first  of  May ;  for  I  must 
consult  my  westward  friends  in  a  matter  of  so  much  consequence  as  mov 
ing  or  not  moving  with  the  college.  If  I  go  to  the  Jerseys,  it  will  probably 
be  about  the  middle  of  April.  Religion  is  upon  the  revival  in  these  parts. 
Messrs.  Stillman  and  Spear  were  up  from  Boston,  and  Backus  from 
Middleborough.  It  is  said  that  the  eight  ministers  at  the  corporation 
meeting  were  all  for  Providence.  This  I  shall  not  assert,  however.  But 
I  believe  the  Baptist  society  in  general  are  not  dissatisfied  a_t  the  determi 
nation.  I  could  tell  you  a  long  tale  if  I  had  time,  but  can  only  tell  you 
that  we  have  twenty-three  scholars,  eighteen  of  whom  are  matriculated. 
Mrs.  Manning  joins  in  love  to  you,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hart,  etc.,  with,  sir, 
Your  unworthy  brother,  and  servant  in  the  gospel, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  corporation  it  was  also  resolved:  — 

"  That  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Edward  Upham,  Isaac  Backus,  Samuel  Stillman, 
Gardner  Thurston,  John  Maxson,  Russell  Mason,  and  Samuel  Winsor,  or 
any  three  of  them,  be  a  committee  to  wait  upon  Mr.  President  Manning, 
and  inform  him  of  the  hearty  approbation  we  have  of  his  conduct,  care, 
and  government  of  the  college,  and  request  him  still  to  sustain  the  office 
he  hath  discharged  with  so  much  honor,  and  to  go  with  the  college  to 


1769-1770. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  H3 


Providence  when  it  shall  be  removed  ;  and  that  they  treat  with  the  con 
gregation  of  which  the  President  is  pastor,  and  inform  them  of  this  request, 
and  endeavor  to  procure  their  consent  to  his  removal;  and  that  they 
report  to  the  next  corporation  meeting." 

This  cautious  delicacy,  remarks  Prof.  Goddarcl,  with 
which  the  corporation  interfered  with  President  Manning's 
existing  relations,  presents  a  somewhat  grateful  contrast 
to  the  unceremonious  and  otherwise  questionable  modes 
of  procedure,  which,  under  similar  circumstances,  are  now 
sometimes  adopted. 

The  final  decision  to  locate  the  college  at  Providence, 
although  a  wise  one,  as  the  result  has  proved,  seems  never 
theless  remarkable  in  view  of  the  relative  importance  of 
the  two  rival  candidates  for  the  honor.  Providence  was 
then  a  town,  with  a  population  of  less  than  four  thousand, 
while  Newport  was  the  second  city  in  New  England,  and 
the  centre  of  opulence,  refinement,  and  learning.  In  her 
extensive  commerce  and  trade,  her  numerous  manufacto 
ries,  and  her  merchant  princes,  she  excelled  indeed  all  other 
cities  in  the  American  Colonies.  As  early  as  1729,  Bishop 
Berkley,  in  one  of  his  letters  to  a  friend  in  Dublin,  described 
Newport  "  as  the  most  thriving  place  in  all  America  for 
bigness."  The  late  Dr.  Waterhouse,  in  a  newspaper  arti- 

O 

cle  published  in  1824,  thus  writes :  "  The  island  of  Rhode 
Island,  from  its  salubrity  and  surpassing  beauty,  before  the 
Revolutionary  War  so  sadly  defaced  it,  was  the  chosen 
resort  of  the  rich,  and  philosophic,  from  nearly  all  parts  of 
the  civilized  world."  Among  the  arguments  advanced  in 
favor  of  Newport,  was  the  advantage  to  be  derived  by  the 
professors  and  students  from  the  Redwood  Library.  This 
was  at  the  time  the  second  library  in  the  country,  contain 
ing  about  fifteen  hundred  choice  books  on  the  arts  and 
sciences,  and  especially  rich  in  classical  and  theological  lore. 
10* 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 

Providence,  on  the  other  hand,  had  no  such  literary  ad 
vantages.  But  her  situation  was  more  convenient,  and  in 
case  of  any  rupture  with  the  British  Government,  of  which 
there  were  strong  probabilities  at  this  time,  she  was  much 
less  exposed  to  an  invasion  or  attack.  Besides,  here  Roger 
Williams  found  his  home  and  resting-place,  and  here  was 
the  centre  of  Baptist  influence.  Hence  the  "  Baptist  Soci 
ety,"  as  Manning  designates  the  denomination  at  large, 
were  not  dissatisfied  with  the  final  action  of  the  corpo 
ration.  It  will  be  observed  that  Providence,  according 
to  the  records,  offered  a  less  amount  in  subscriptions  and 
securities  than  her  defeated  rival. 

One  of  the  results  of  the  location  of  this  institution  at 
Providence,  was  an  application  to  the  General  Assembly, 
by  another  set  of  petitioners,  for  another  college.  At  the 
February  session,  1770,  a  charter  for  an  academy  and  col 
lege,  to  be  located  in  Newport,  passed  the  lower  house  of 
the  Assembly,  by  twenty  majority.  The  application,  says 
Judge  Staples,  was  not  favorably  received  in  the  upper 
house,  where  it  was  either  rejected  or  indefinitely  post 
poned.1  The  following  action  of  the  corporation,  at  a 
special  meeting  held  in  Warren  on  the  2d  of  April,  is  the 
probable  explanation  of  the  defeat  of  this  project :  — 

"  Resolved,  That  this  corporation  make  application  to  the  General  As 
sembly,  and  pray  that  a  petition  now  before  the  Assembly,  for  granting  a 
charter  to  another  college,  be  rejected." 

"  Voted,  That  the  Chancellor,  the  President,  Hon.  Darius  Sessions, 
Eev.  Samuel  Stillman,  Col.  Job  Bennet,  and  the  Secretary  (Thomas 
Eyres),  be  a  committee  to  draw  a  memorial  to  the  General  Assembly,  pur 
suant  to  the  preceding  vote." 

The  said  memorial  or  remonstrance  .having  been  pre 
pared  and  approved,  it  was  — 

1  Annals  of  Providence,  p.  529. 


1709-1770. 


BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  I15 

«  Voted   That  the  Hon.  Stephen  Hopkins,  Hon.  Samuel  Ward,  Hon. 
Darius  Sessions,  Job  Bonnet,  Moses  Brown,  Daniel  Jenckes,  John  Til- 
linghast,  Oliver  Arnold,  and  James  Mitchell  Varnum,  be,  and  they  or  tl 
major.part  of  them  are,  appointed  a  committee  to  be  present  at  the  Gen 
eral  Assembly,  and  enforce  the  said  remonstrance." 

The  location  of  the  edifice  having  thus  been  finally  de 
termined  upon,  the  building  committee  prosecuted  their 
labors  with  great  energy  and  zeal.  The  lot  selected  for  it 
comprised  originally  eight  acres,  including  a  portion  of  the 
"home-lot"  of  Chad  Brown,  the  "first  Baptist  elder  in 
Rhode  Island."  It  was  for  this  reason  purchased  by  John 
and  Moses  Brown,  and  a  deed  of  the  same  given  by  them 
to  the  corporation,  that  the  college  might  stand  on  the 
original  lot1  of  their  pious  ancestor.  The  plans  which  the 

i  This  lot,  extending  from  Main  Street  to  Tower  Street,  and  also  the  home- 
lots  of  George  Rickard  and  John  Warner,  which  came  into  the  possession  of  ( 
Brown,  descended,  on  the  death  of  said  Brown,  to  his  eldest  son,  John,  who, , 
1G72  gave  a  deed  thereof  to  his  brothers  James  and  Jeremiah,  reserving  the  f; 
ilv  burial  ground,  situated  a  little  west  from  the  old  Town  House,  on  College 
Street     It  was  afterwards  sold  to  Daniel  Abbot,  from  whom  it  descended  to  h: 
son  Daniel,  and  from  him,  the  middle  part  whereon  University  Hall  now  stands 
to  Samuel  Fenner,  of  Cranston,  a  nephew  of  Abbot's  wife.    It  was  purchased  , 
Tenner  in  1770,  by  John  and  Moses  Brown,  and  by  them  sold  to  the  corporation, 
for  the  sum  of  three  hundred  and  thirty  dollars,  paid  by  a  discount  from  their 
subscriptions,  in  order  that  the  college  '<  might  stand  on  the  original  lot  of  the 
first  Baptist  elder  in  this  State."    (See  papers  of  the  late  Moses  Brown.) 

The  following  extract  from  the  Record  of  Deeds,  Book  19,  p.  108,  will  be  in 
teresting  to  the  antiquarian.    It  presents  a  clear  and  accurate  accc 
southern  half  of  the  original  college  premises. 

EXTRACT  PROM  DEED  OF  COLLEGE  LOT. 

"To  all  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come:   We,   John  Brown  and 
Moses  Brown,  both  of  Providence,  in  the  County  of  Providence  and  Colony  of 
Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations,  merchants,  send  greeting :  -  Know  y  , 
that  we,  the  said  John  and  Moses  Brown,  lor  and  in  consideration  of  the  s 
three  hundred  and  thirty  dollars,  to  us  in  hand  already  paid  by  the .Trustees  a 
Fellows  of  the  college  or  university  in  the  English  Colony  of  Rhode  Island 
and  Providence  Plantations,  in  New  England  in  America,  the  recent  whereof 
fey  .  discount  out  of  the  sums  we  have  severally  subscribed  to  the  college,  we  do 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IK. 

committee  adopted  for  the  building  were,  in  the  main,  those 
of  Nassau  Hall,  Princeton,  which,  as  we  have  before  re 
marked,  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  finest  structures  in  the 
country.  They  broke  ground  on  Tuesday,  the  27th  day 
of  March,  1770,  and  on  the  14th  day  of  May  following,  the 

hereby  acknowledge,  have  given,  granted,  bargained,  sold,  aliened,  enfeoffed,  con 
veyed,  and  confirmed,  and  by  these  presents  do  give,  grant,  sell,  alien,  convey, 
and  confirm  unto  said  Trustees  and  Fellows,  and  to  their  successors  and  assigns 
forever,  one  certain  piece  or  parcel  of  land  lying  in  the  town  of  Providence, 
bounded  .  :  .  .  .  which  said  piece  of  land  contains  about  four  acres,  and  became 
the  property  of  us,  said  Moses  and  John  Brown,  by  a  deed  of  bargain  and  sale 
from  Samuel  Fenner,  of  Cranston,  who  received  it  as  one  of  the  legatees  of  Daniel 
Abbott,  Esq.,  late  of  said  Providence,  deceased,  who  received  the  northerly  third 
part  thereof  from  bis  father,  Daniel  Abbott,  by  descent,  who  purchased  the  same  of 
James  Brown,  who  received  it  of  his  brother  John  Brown,  the  present  grantor's 
great-grandfather,  who  received  it  by  descent  from  his  father  Chad  Brown,  who 
was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  after  the  native  Indians  of  whom  it  was  pur 
chased,  and  is  the  middle  part  of  that  which  was  his  houselot  or  home-share  of 
land  so  called ;  the  other  two  thirds  being  the  middle  part  of  the  original  house- 
lot  or  home-share  of  George  Rickard,  since  called  John  Warner's,  which  part  was 
conveyed  by  the  said  Rickard  to  the  said  Chad  Brown,  from  whom  it  descended 
to  his  aforesaid  son  John,  who  conveyed  it  to  his  brother  Jeremiah  Brown,  who 
conveyed  the  same  to  the  aforesaid  Daniel  Abbott  the  elder,  from  whom  it  de 
scended  to  Daniel  Abbott  the  younger,  and  became  Samuel  Fenner's  as  aforesaid : 
the  whole  of  this  piece  of  land  making  the  southern  half  of  the  lot  and  highway 
leading  to  it  whereon  the  college  edifice  is  now  erecting." 

Signed  Aug.  1st,  1770,  by  John  Brown  and  his  wife  Sarah,  Moses  Brown  and 
his  wife  Anna,  and  Stephen  Hopkins,  Chief  Justice.  Recorded  Jan.  7, 1771,  in 
book  19,  page  108. 

The  northern  half  of  the  original  college  premises,  consisting  of  about  four 
acres  of  land,  was  purchased  by  the  corporation,  as  per  deed  recorded  in  the 
aforesaid  book,  page  106,  of  Oliver  Bowen,  of  Providence,  one  of  the  legatees  of 
the  aforesaid  Daniel  Abbott,  Esq..  for  the  sum  of  four  hundred  dollars.  Mr. 
Abbott,  says  the  record,  "  took  it  by  descent  from  his  father  Daniel  Abbott,  who 
received  two  thirds  part  of  it,  being  on  the  north  side,  from  Robert  Williams,  by 
deed  of  gift,  who  purchased  it  by  deed  of  bargain  and  sale  of  Robert  Morrice, 
who  purchased  of  Daniel  Abbott  the  first,  who  was  an  original  proprietor  after 
the  native  Indians.  The  other  third  part  the  second  named  Daniel  Abbott  pur 
chased  by  deed  of  bargain  and  sale  from  his  brother  John  Brown,  who  took  it 
by  descent  from  his  father  Chad  Brown."  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  Chad  Brown 
originally  owned,  or  came  into  the  possession  of  all  the  land  which  constituted 
he  original  college  premises,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  portion  which  at  first 
belonged  to  Daniel  Abbott. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  117 

corner-stone  of  what  is  now  called  University  Hall  was 
laid  by  John  Brown.  This  stone  is  said  by  Mr.  Howland 
to  have  been  the  first  one  laid  in  the  foundation,  at  the 
bottom  of  the  cellar  wall,  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
building.  Tradition  adds  that  Mr.  Brown,  in  accordance 
with  the  customs  of  the  times,  generously  treated  the 
crowd  with  punch,  in  honor  of  the  joyful  occasion. 

Mr.  Edwards  describes  the  location  selected  by  the  com 
mittee  as  "  remarkably  airy,  healthful,  and  pleasant ;  being 
the  summit  of  a  hill  pretty  easy  of  ascent,  and  command 
ing  a  prospect  of  the  town  of  Providence  below,  of  the 
Narraganset  Bay  and  the  islands,  and  of  an  extensive  coun 
try,  variegated  with  hills  and  dales,  woods  and  plains,"  etc. 
Surely,  he  adds,  "  this  spot  was  made  for  a  seat  of  the 
Muses." 

Meanwhile  the  President  was  prayerfully  considering 
the  sundering  of  his  connection  with  the  church  in  Warren  ; 
an  event  in  which  his  tenderest  and  best  feelings  were  in 
volved.  It  is  true  that  the  compensation  which  he  had 
thus  far  received  for  his  various  labors  had  been  barely 
sufficient  for  his  support.  "  While,  however,"  says  Prof. 
Goddard,  "  his  outward  man  was  thus  a  stranger  to  the 
luxurious  accommodations  of  life,  his  inner  man  was  sus 
tained  by  the  ennobling  consciousness  that  he  lived  not  in 
vain ;  that  he  was  treading  with  cheerful  alacrity  the  path 
of  appointed  trial  ;  and  that  through  his  agency  multi 
tudes  were  becoming  wiser  and  better,  for  time  and  for 
eternity.  On  this  passage  in  the  life  of  Dr.  Manning  it  is 
delightful  to  dwell.  It  is  delightful  to  turn  aside  from 
scenes  of  political  ambition  and  ecclesiastical  turbulence, 
which  now  mar  our  peace,  and  to  repose  for  a  while  upon 
a  bygone  example  of  unaffected  humility,  of  quiet  duty, 
and  confiding  prnyer.  He  had  been  elected  President  of 


118  MANNING    AND 


CHAP.  III. 


Rhode  Island  College ;  and  the  future  prosperity  of  that 
institution  was  thought  to  depend  on  its  removal  to  Prov 
idence.  So  affectionately  desirous,  however,  was  Dr.  Man 
ning  of  the  people  of  his  care,  many  of  whom  had,  through 
his  instrumentality,  experienced  the  transforming  efficacy 
of  the  religion  of  Christ,  that  he  could  not  find  it  iii  his 
heart  to  leave  them.  To  avoid  a  separation  so  painful  to  his 
sensibilities,  he  even  proposed  to  resign  the  elevated  station 
to  which  he  had  just  been  appointed.  To  this  proposition 
his  influential  friends  would  not  listen,  and  they  persuaded 
him  to  abandon  all  thought  of  resigning  the  presidentship.1 
While  we  are  compelled  to  think  that  his  final  decision 
was  a  wise  one,  we  honor  the  feelings  which  well-nigh  be 
trayed  his  judgment.  Under  similar  circumstances,  how 
few  men  would  have  faltered, —  how  few  would  have  sought 
to  renounce  the  pathway  to  literary  and  social  distinction, 
for  the  unambitious  career  of  a  village  pastor!" 

After  consulting  with  his  family  and  friends,  and  corres 
ponding  with  various  members  of  the  corporation,  Man 
ning,  as  has  already  been  observed,  decided  to  resign  his 
pastoral  charge,  which  he  did  on  the  26th  of  April,  1770, 
"  to  the  wonderment,"  in  the  language  of  the  church  rec 
ords,  "  of  his  people  ;  he  being  greatly  admired  and  re 
nowned."  In  May  following  he  removed  with  his  pupils 
and  undergraduates  to  Providence.  On  taking  up  his 


i  On  this  subject  the  Rev.  Morgan  Edwards  wrote  him  from  Philadelphia  as 
follows:  "  I  cannot  help  being  angry  with  you  when  you  talk  of  another  Presi 
dent.  Have  you  endured  so  much  hardship  in  vain?  We  have  no  man  that  will 
do  so  well  as  you.  Talk  no  more,  think  no  more  of  quitting  the  presidency,  un 
less  you  have  a  mind  to  join  issue  with  those  projectors  and  talkers  who  mean  no 
more  than  to  hinder  anything  from  being  done.  If  you  go  to  Providence,  the 
Warren  people  may  have  a  supply;  if  they  were  willing  to  part  with  you,  it  is 
likely  the  college  would  have  no  reason  to  covet  you. "'—Rowland's  biographical 
Sketch  of  Manning. 


1769-1770.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 

abode  here,  he  occupied,  says  Rowland,  the  old  house  of 
Benjamin  Bowen,  on  the  lot  at  the  corner  of  Bowen  and 
North  Main  Streets,  where  Mr.  Richmond's  brick  house 
now  stands.  Mr.  Howell  and  the  students  boarded  in 
private  families,  at  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  week. 
There  they  studied,  and  at  certain  hours  of  the  day  met 
in  one  of  the  chambers  of  the  brick  schoolhouse,  now  the 
house  of  the  Meeting  Street  colored  school,  for  prayers 
and  recitations.  These  details,  trifling  though  they  may 
appear,  nevertheless  afford  an  insight  into  the  condition 
and  management  of  the  college  at  this  period,  and  a  view 
of  Manning's  position,  better  than  more  formal  statements. 
"  Dr.  Manning,"  says  Goddard,  whose  chaste  and  expres 
sive  language  we  again  quote,  "  now  entered  upon  a  thea 
tre  of  enlarged  and  responsible  action.  The  college  was 
yet  in  its  infancy,  and  demanded  his  parental  supervision ; 
its  funds  were  scanty,  and  needed  to  be  recruited;  its 
actual  system  of  discipline  and  instruction  was  imperfect, 
and  required  not  only  to  be  improved,  but  to  be  adapted 
to  the  new  circumstances  under  which  it  was  hereafter  to 
be  administered.  To  these  important  objects  he  devoted 
himself,  with  patience  and  energy,  and  with  that  spirit  of 
self-denial  which  is  essential  to  the  success  of  great  enter 
prises,  and  which  great  enterprises  are  apt  to  inspire.  In 
the  beneficent  work  of  establishing,  within  the  little  Col 
ony  of  Rhode  Island,  « a  public  seminary  for  the  educa 
tion  of  youth  in  the  vernacular  and  learned  languages,  and 
in  the  liberal  arts  and  sciences,'  he  was  aided  by  the  effi 
cient  cooperation  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Edwards,  Smith, 
Stillman,  Backus,  Gano,  and  others  of  his  clerical  brethren. 
It  is,  however,  perhaps  not  too  much  to  say,  that,  but  for 
the  enlightened  zeal  and  substantial  liberality  of  a  few 
Baptist  laymen,  citizens  of  Providence,  the  college  would 


120  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 

have  been  slow  in  winning  its  way  to  general  repute. 
These  public-spirited  men,  though  strangers  themselves  to 
the  discipline  of  schools  of  learning,  knew  how  to  prize 
the  benefits  of  high  intellectual  culture.  Though  self- 
educated,  they  were  without  a  particle  of  hostility  to  the 
distinctions  of  learning,  or  of  that  affected  contempt  for 
learned  men  with  which  the  uncultivated  sometimes  seek 
to  console  their  deficiencies.  Moved  by  a  generous  ardor, 
they  determined  that  their  children  and  the  children  of 
their  contemporaries  should  enjoy,  to  the  remotest  gener 
ations,  opportunities  for  intellectual  improvement  denied 
to  themselves.  Well  have  they  been  repaid  for  their 
efforts  in  this  good  cause.  Their  activity  and  enterprise  in 
the  accumulation  of  wealth  are  now  well-nigh  forgotten ; 
but  still  fresh  is  the  memory  of  all  their  deeds  in  behalf  of 
science  and  letters  and  religion." 

A  part  of  Manning's  plan  was  to  secure  by  correspond 
ence  the  cooperation  and  assistance  of  friends  in  England. 
In  pursuance  of  this  plan,  he  addressed  a  letter  to  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Stennett,  for  thirty-seven  years  the  faith 
ful  and  affectionate  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Little 
Wild  Street,  London.  Mr.  Stennett  was  regarded  as  one 
of  the  most  eminent  ministers  of  his  own  denomination. 
His  connections  too  with  Protestant  Dissenters  generally, 
and  with  members  of  the  Established  Church,  were  large 
and  respectable.  One  of  his  constant  hearers  was  the 
philanthropist  John  Howard,  whom  Burke  has  so  highly 
eulogized,  George  III.,  it  is  said,  was  on  terms  of  inti 
macy  with  him,  frequently  calling  at  his  house  on  Mus- 
well  Hill.  As  a  scholar  and  an  author  Mr.  Stennett  had 
no  small  repute.  His  Works,  edited  by  the  Rev.  William 
Jones,  were  published  in  1824,  in  three  octavo  volumes. 


17G9-1770.  BUOWX    UNIVERSITY. 

PROVIDENCE,  June  7,  1770. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

Although  unknown  to  you,  I  take  the  freedom  to  trouble  you  with  read- 
in-  a  letter  from  an  unworthy  friend.  I  was  urged  to  this  partly  by  the 
desire  of  our  common  friend,  Mr.  Henry  Williams,  merchant  of  New 
York,  and  partly  because  I  have  often  heard  that  you  arc  a  lover  of  our 
nation,  and  are  engaged  to  further  the  interests  of  the  Baptist  society  ;  as 
also  that  you  may  be  informed  of  the  state  of  our  college,  the  interests  of 
which  I  am  told  you  have  at  heart,  Of  this  the  late  very  acceptable  pre 
sent  of  your  two  Volumes  of  Sermons  is  an  additional  proof.  I  heartily 
wish  that  your  example  may  be  followed  by  others  of  our  friends  who 
have  written  for  the  public. 

It  was  resolved,  after  long  deliberation,  to  place  the  college  edifice  in 
the  town  of  Providence  in  this  colony,  as  most  conducive  to  the  ends  of 
its  institution.  This,  however,  has  been  attended  with  considerable  diffi 
culty  ;  but  I  forbear  to  trouble  you  with  the  recital  of  our  little  affairs.  The 
foundation  of  the  college  is  now  laid,  and  the  building  proceeds  faster 
than  could  have  been  expected,  its  magnitude  considered,  which  is  one 
hundred  and  fifty  by  forty-six  feet,  with  a  projection  in  the  middle,  of  ten 
feet  on  each  side,  for  the  public  rooms.  It  is  to  be  four  stories  high,  with 
an  entry  of  twelve  feet  through  the  middle  of  each,  and  is  to  be  built  of 
brick,  "it  will  contain  fifty-six  rooms  in  all.  The  town  of  Providence  it 
self  has  nearly  provided  for  the  building,  as  they  have  raised  by  subscrip 
tion  near  £4000,  lawful  money,  at  six  shillings  per  dollar.  The  beneficence 
of  a  few  Baptists  in  this  place,  their  fortunes  considered,  is  almost  unparal 
leled.  I  should  rejoice  to  find  many  elsewhere  like-minded.  "\Ve  should 
then  sec  the  college  properly  endowed,  as  well  as  founded.  This  we  must 
expect  from  abroad.  Added  to  the  sum  collected  by  Mr.  Edwards  in  Eu 
rope,  our  Brother  Ilezekiah  Smith,  of  Haverhill,  has  collected  and  obtained 
subscriptions  in  South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  from  whence  he  has  just 
returned,  to  the  amount  of  about  £500  sterling. 

It  would  be  happy  for  us  if  we  could  find  in  England  a  family  of  IIol- 
lises  !  to  patronize  our  college ;  but  I  fear  the  Baptists  are  not  to  expect 

i  Concerning  the  Hollis  family,  who  for  nearly  a  century  continued  their  ben 
efactions  to  Harvard  College,  we  may  hero  state  in  brief,  what  Pierce  and 
Quincy  have  given  at  length  in  their  histories  of  the  University.  Thomas  Ilollis, 
the  father  of  the  "benefactor,"  was  born  in  1634,  and  died  in  1718.  His  son, 
called,  by  reason  of  his  donations  to  Harvard,  Thomas  Hollis,  1st,  died  in  1731. 
A  second  son,  Nathaniel,  died  in  1738.  A  third  sou,  John,  was  a  partner  in 
11 


lL>2  MANNING    AND 

such  an  instance  of  public  spirit  in  their  favor,  although  I  have  heretofore 
indulged  such  hopes,  and  am  yet  unwilling  to  give  them  up. 

Two  young  men  have  already  engaged  in  the  ministry  who  have  been 
assisted  by  this  institution,  and  both  from  their  beginnings  give  promise  of 
usefulness.  Their  first  attempts  have  thus  far  been  highly  acceptable  to  the 
public.  May  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  thrust  out  many  more  faithful 
laborers.  In  this  part  of  the  world  the  field  for  labor  is  very  large,  while 
the  faithful  and  well-furnished  laborers  arc  truly  few.  To  my  great  sat 
isfaction,  I  lately  received  certain  information  of  the  conversion  to  Baptist 
principles  of  a  young  Presbyterian  minister,  eminent  for  his  piety  and 
success  as  a  preacher.  The  manner  in  which  this  was,  by  Divine  Provi 
dence,  brought  about,  is  somewhat  singular.  He  was  preaching  upon  John 
xiv.  15,  when  truth  was  let  into  his  mind  with  such  vividness  as  com 
pelled  him  to  open  the  nature  of  the  ordinance  of  baptism  so  clcarlv  as  to 
convince  the  church,  of  which  he  was  pastor,  that  believer's  baptism  by 
immersion  only  is  a  divine  institution.  In  consequence  of  this,  they  sent  a 
messenger  to  me  to  corne  and  administer  the  ordinance  to  both  minister  and 
people,  the  most  of  whom  expect  immediately  to  submit  thereto.  As  they, 
however,  arc  more  than  one  hundred  miles  distant  from  me,  and  near  Mr. 
Smith,1  he  has  engaged  to  supply  my  place.  I  am  also  told  that  God  is  do- 

busmess  with  his  brother  Thomas.  Thomas  Hollis,  2d,  son  of  Nathaniel,  died  in 
1735.  The  total  amount  of  the  benefactions  of  this  family  up  to  this  date,  "  ex 
ceeded,"  says  Quincy,  "  £6000  currency  of  Massachusetts,  which,  considering 
the  value  of  money  at  that  period,  and  the  disinterested  spirit  by  which 
their  chanties  were  prompted,  constitutes  one  of  the  most  remarkable  in 
stances  of  continued  benevolence  upon  record."  Thomas  Hollis,  3d,  was  born 
in  1720,  and  died  in  1774.  His  donations  to  Harvard  College  during  his  lifetime 
exceeded  £1400  sterling.  Timothy  llollis  died  in  1791,  at  an  advanced  age.  He 
gave  £20  sterling  for  the  library.  Thomas  Brand  Hollis,  the  last  of  the  bene 
factors,  was  born  1719,  and  died  in  1804.  His  Memoirs  were  published  in  1808,  in 
two  handsome  quarto  volumes,  by  his  friend  the  Rev.  John  Disney. 

1  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith.  In  his  diary,  now  among  the  archives  of  the  Univer 
sity,  we  find  the  following:  "  Wednesday,  June  13th.  Went  to  Deerfield,  and 
preached  from  Acts  xi.23:  ';  Who,  when  he  came,  and  had  seen  the  grace  of  God, 
was  glad,  and  exhorted  them  all  that  with  purpose  of  heart  they  would  cleave 
unto  the  Lord."  After  the  sermon  I  examined  the  Rev.  Eliphalet  Smith  and  a 
number  of  his  hearers  for  baptism.  Thursday,  14th,  I  preached  in  Mr.  Smith's 
meeting-house  from  Col.  ii.  11,12.  After  sermon  I  baptized  fourteen  persons, 
whose  names  are  as  follows:  Rev.  Eliphalet  Smith  and  his  wife  Nancy,  Dea. 
Wadley  Cram  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  Samuel  Winslowand  his  wife  Jane,  James 
Philbrick  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  Jeremiah  Present,  Moses  Clough,  William  Tir- 


1769-1770.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 

ing  marvellous  things  in  Virginia  and  North  and  South  Carolina  amongst 
the  Baptists,  bringing  multitudes  to  submit  to  baptism  according  to  Christ's 
instructions.  And  we  are  not  quite  forsaken  in  New  England.  In  several 
towns  on  Cape  Cod  God  is  at  work,  although  in  general  we  have  reason 
to  cry,  "  Our  leanness,  our  leanness  !  " 

My  situation  in  the  centre  of  American  intelligence,  especially  as  I  have 
travelled  through,  and  have  correspondents  in,  most  of  the  principal  towns, 
furnishes  me  with  an  opportunity  of  knowing  almost  everything  interesting 
to  the  Baptists  ;  of  whose  affairs,  should  you  be  disposed  to  hear,  you  may 
depend  upon  receiving  the  best  accounts  I  can  collect,  whenever  you  lay 
your  commands  in  this  way.  However  agreeable  the  like  from  you  would 
be  respecting  affairs  in  Britain,  yet,  amidst  your  more  important  connec 
tions  and  engagements,  the  utmost  I  presume  to  ask  is  your  indulgence 
for  interrupting  you  by  this  tedious  epistle,  and  beg  leave  to  subscribe, 
Dear  sir,  your  most  unworthy  brother, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

To  this  letter  Dr.  Stennett  thus  replies  :  — 

LONDON,  Aug.  10,  1770. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

I  received  your  favor  of  June  7th,  and  take  this  opportunity  of  return 
ing  you  my  sincere  thanks  for  it,  and  of  assuring  you  that  a  correspond 
ence  with  Mr.  Manning,  for  whose  character,  before  I  received  this  ex 
pression  of  his  friendship,  I  had  great  respect,  will  afford  me  a  particular 
pleasure.  I  write  by  Mr.  Gordon,1  a  minister  of  the  Independent  persua 
sion  of  this  city,  who  intends  settling  in  America.  He  is  a  very  sensible 
and  worthy  man,  and  has  ample  recommendations  with  him.  His  po- 

rill,  Hannah  Polsiper,  Nancy  Folsom,  and  Isaac  Blasdel,  of  Chester,  the  rest  of 
Deerfield,  who  the  same  day  were  embodied  into  a  Baptist  church.  A  good  day 
it  was,  indeed.  The  goings  of  the  Lord  were  very  evident."  Two  days  after 
wards  Mr.  Smith  baptized  seven  persons,  one  of  whom  was  Dr.  Samuel  Shepard, 
who,  in  1771,  was  ordained  as  pastor  over  the  church  at  Stratham.  Mr.  Stillman, 
of  Boston,  preached  the  sermon,  Mr.  Smith  gave  the  charge,  and  President  Man 
ning  the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  Dr.  Shepard  became  a  very  active  and  highly 
honored  minister  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  A  sketch  of  his  life  appears  in 
Sprague's  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit.  He  was  converted  to  Baptist  senti 
ments,  it  seems,  by  reading  Norcott's  work  on  Baptism. 

i  William  Gordon.  D.D.  He  settled  in  Roxbury,  Mass.,  and  afterwards  wrote 
a  history  entitled  "  The  Rise,  Progress,  and  Establishment  of  the  Independence 
of  the  United  States  of  America,"  published  in  1778,  in  four  octavo  volumes. 
For  a  more  extended  notice  of  Gordon,  see  page  387. 


MANNING   AND  CHAP.  III. 

litical  speculations  in  favor  of  America,  and  some  little  misunderstanding 
with  his  people  occasioned  by  his  not  knowing  how  conscientiously  to  bap 
tize  all  the  children  of  those  who  attended  his  ministry,  have  engaged  him 
to  leave  us,  and  spend  the  remainder  of  his  life  with  you.  Where  he  shall 
settle  I  believe  he  has  not  himself  determined,  but  I  imagine  somewhere 
about  Philadelphia  or  New  York.  Should  he  take  a  tour  your  way,  I 
have  no  doubt  he  will  meet  with  a  friendly  and  brotherly  reception  at  Prov 
idence.  I  was  educated  at  the  same  academy  with  him,  and  have  a  great 
esteem  and  affection  for  him.  Indeed,  he  is  well  known  and  esteemed  by 
all  denominations  here. 

I  am  glad  your  college  is  in  such  forwardness,  and  that  the  design, 
which  is  truly  important,  meets  with  so  much  encouragement  among  our 
friends  on  your  side  of  the  water.  The  groundless  prejudices  which 
have  a  long  time  prevailed  among  many  good  people  of  our  persuasion, 
will,  I  hope,  in  time  subside;  and  nothing  will  contribute  so  much  to  the 
removing  of  them  as  the  zeal,  good  behavior,  and,  with  the  blessing  of  God, 
success  of  the  first  young  persons  you  send  out  into  the  ministry.  I  look 
upon  it  as  a  very  kind  Providence  that  hath  set  you  at  the  head  of  this 
college ;  and  as  I  am  sensible  you  must  have  many  difficulties  to  contend 
with,  so  I  heartily  pray  you  may  have  strength  according  to  your  day. 
The  success  you  have  already  met  with  is  a  circumstance  which  I  doubt 
not  affords  you  no  small  encouragement,  and  I  hope  you  will  still,  my 
dear  sir,  meet  with  a  great  deal  more.  I  shall  rejoice  to  help  forward 
your  design  in  any  way  that  I  am  able.  But  you  are  sensible  we  have 
not  a  great  deal  of  wealth  in  our  denomination,  and  few  of  the  Baptists, 
as  I  hinted  before,  are  very  warm  advocates  for  learning.  Dr.  Llewelyn 
is  your  very  good  friend,  and  I  am  persuaded  would  be  glad  of  an  acquaint 
ance  with  Professor  Manning.  I  speak  not  from  any  intimation  on  his 
part,  but  from  the  particular  knowledge  I  have  of  his  character,  and  his 
good  dispositions  towards  your  plan.  We  have  had  a  great  loss  in  Mr. 
Roffey,1  who  died  in  April  last,  and  through  whose  further  good  offices  I 
hoped  your  college  would  have  been  considerably  benefited.  But  God 
will,  I  hope,  raise  up  friends. 

I  cannot  now  be  so  particular  as  I  wish,  as  I  write  in  a  hurry.     By  the 

i  Mr.  Roflfcy,  it  appears,  was  a  benefactor  of  Rhode  Island  College.  From  the 
records  we  find  that  at  a  meeting  of  the  corporation  held  at  Newport,  Nov.  16, 
1769,  it  was  voted  "  That  the  thanks  of  this  corporation  be  transmitted  to  Mr. 
Samuel  Roffey,  for  his  generous  benefactions  to  this  institution,  by  the  secre 
tary." 


1700-1770.  BliOWN    UNIVERSITY.  125 

hand  that  conveys  this  I  have  written  to 'Mr.  Stillman,  of  Boston,  whom  I 
have,  I  fear,  wearied  with  a  very  long  scrawl.  I  rejoice  in  the  agreeable 
account  you  have  favored  me  with,  of  the  success  of  the  gospel  in  many 
parts,  and  that  the  truth  with  respect  to  baptism  prevails.  May  the 
knowledge  of  Christ  and  of  his  ways  spread  far  and  wide.  We  are  not 
without  some  instances  of  the  power  and  grace  of  God  among  us  ;  and  I 
think  the  interest  in  many  places  revives.  New  associations  of  ministers 
and  congregations  are  lately  set  up  in  the  country  where  there  were  none 
before. 

As  to  Dr.  Moore's  scheme,  he  has  met  with  considerable  success,  though 
as  yet  but  little  has  been  collected  among  the  Baptists.  I  believe  about 
£1000  is  raised  ;  we  have  obtained  also  £1000  of  the  King.  Trustees  are 
appointed  for  the  management  of  the  moneys  collected,  among  whom,  of 
the  Baptists,  arc  Mr.  Stead,  Dr.  Llewelyn,  and  myself,  who  consider  our 
selves  as  particularly  obliged  to  look  after  the  interests  of  our  friends  in 
Nova  Scotia. 

As  to  political  matters,  my  time  will  allow  me  to  say  but  little  now.  The 
sovereignty  of  Parliament  over  all  the  British  dominions  seems  to  be  the 
great  object  of  Government ;  and  yet  I  believe  they  would  be  glad  to  have 
peace  and  harmony  restored.  I  made  use  of  the  argument  of  policy,  as 
well  as  of  the  goodness  of  the  cause  itself,  in  favor  of  the  discussion  in 
Nova  Scotia,  and  it  was  duly  attended  to.  I  hope  the  discouragements 
the  Baptists  have  lately  met  with  in  America  are  removed,  and  their 
grievances  in  some  degree  at  least  redressed.  I  am  sure,  however,  it  would 
be  good  policy,  to  say  no  more  of  it,  in  the  other  denominations  with  you, 
to  treat  them  well.  And  our  friends,  I  hope,  see  the  importance  and  rea 
sonableness  of  taking  every  united  step  that  our  divine  religion  teaches,' 
before  they  proceed  further.  But  I  must  not  run  out  any  further  at  present. 

It  will,  I  assure  you,  my  dear  friend,  afford  me  a  very  sensible  pleasure 
to  hear  from  you  quickly,  and  often ;  and  you  will  oblige  me  much  by 
favoring  me  with  all  the  news  you  can.  My  sincere  Christian  regards  to 
Mr.  Hezekiah  Smith,  for  whose  character  I  have  a  high  esteem,  and  all 
inquiring  friends.  I  am,  dear  sir, 

Your  very  affectionate  friend  and  brother, 

SAMUEL  STENNETT. 

The  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith,  to  whose  efforts  in  behalf  of 
the  college  Manning  in   his  letter  refers,  was  desired  by 
11* 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 

the  corporation  "to  solicit  benefactions  for  their  use  in  the 
Southern  provinces."  He  left  home  on  his  important  mis 
sion  Oct.  2,  17G9,  and  returned  June  8,  1770,  having  been 
absent  from  the  people  of  his  charge  a  little  over  eight 
months.  lie  travelled  extensively  through  South  Caro 
lina  and  Georgia,  preaching  as  he  had  opportunity,  and 
prosecuting  with  energy  and  zeal  the  work  to  which  he 
had  been  appointed.  His  fervid  piety,  his  eloquence,  his 
commanding  presence,  and  genial  manners,  gained  him 
hearers,  and  rendered  him  everywhere  a  welcome  guest. 
He  succeeded  in  obtaining  subscriptions  to  the  amount  of 
£3710  17s.  Gel.,  South  Carolina  currency,  of  which,  £2287 
5s.  7£d.  he  received,  and  remitted  at  sundry  times  to  the 
treasurer  of  the  corporation.  His  journal  or  diary,  to 
gether  with  his  accounts,  list  of  subscribers,  etc.,  form  a 
document  of  rare  interest  and  value,  in  connection  with 
the  early  history  of  the  college.  For  his  "great  and  gen 
erous  services  "  the  corporation  at  their  annual  meeting,  in 
September,  returned  him  their  "  hearty  thanks." 

The  following  letter  from  the  Hev.  Oliver  Hart  shows 
how  Mr.  Smith  was  received,  and  the  manner  in  which  he 
performed  the  duties  of  his  mission :  — 

CHARLESTON,  April  17,  1770. 
DEAR  MR.  MANNING  : 

As  our  good  friend  Mr.  Smith  is  now  almost  ready  to  embark  for  your 
Northern  clime,  I  embrace  the  opportunity  of  sending  you  a  few  lines, 
which  I  hope  you  will  accept  as  a  superadded  token  of  my  unfeigned  re 
gard.  I  am  sorry  that  Mr.  Smith  is  obliged  to  leave  us  so  soon.  His 
labors  have  been  acceptable  to  my  people  universally,  and  many  others 
have  constantly  crowded  to  hear  him.  Some,  I  trust,  have  received  ad 
vantage  by  his  faithful  preaching.  Two  young  men  were  to  see  him  last 
night  under  soul  concern.  May  the  good  work  be  carried  on  in  their 
hearts,  and  may  we  yet  hear  of  many  more  being  awakened  to  a  sense  of 
their  lost  state  by  nature.  As  to  his  endeavors  to  serve  the  college,  they 


1760-1770. 


BKOWN   UNIVERSITY.  127 


have  been  indefatigable,  and  his  success  has  been  more  than  equal  to  what 
could  have  been  expected,  all  things  considered.  I  am  sure  he  has  mer 
ited  the  grateful  acknowledgments  of  the  corporation.  No  man  could 
have  done  more,  and  few  would  have  done  so  much  as  he  has,  to  serve  the 
institution.  He  has  met  Avith  much  opposition,  and  bore  many  reflec 
tions,  but  none  of  these  things  have  discouraged  him.  I  heartily  wish 
the  benefactions  of  this  province  may  greatly  promote  the  welfare  of  the 
college.  Great  grace  be  with  you. 

I  am,  yours,  etc. 

OLIVER  HART. 

The  first  Commencement  in  Providence  was  held  in 
the  meeting-house  of  the  society  now  known  as  the  Be 
neficent  Congregational  Society,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river.  In  this  house,  then  the  largest  in  town,  all  subse 
quent  Commencements  were  held,  until  the  completion  of 
the  new  Baptist  meeting-hpuse  in  177G.  But  four  young 
men  graduated  at  this  time  ;  one  of  whom,  Hon.  Theodore 
Foster,  represented  Rhode  Island  for  thirteen  years  in  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States, , and  at  his  death  left  many 
fruits  of  antiquarian  research  connected  with  Rhode  Island 
history.  For  the  following  account  of  this  Commence 
ment,  we  are  again  indebted  to  the  Providence  Gazette:  — 

SECOND    COMMENCEMENT.      1770. 

"  PROVIDENCE,  Sept,  8. 

u  On  Wednesday  was  celebrated  here  the  second  Commencement  in 
Rhode  Island  College.  The  parties  concerned  met  at  the  courthouse,  about 
ten  o'clock,  from  whence  they  proceeded  to  the  Ecv.  Joseph  Snow's  meet 
ing-house,  in  the  following  order  :  First  the  grammar  scholars  ;  then  the 
underclasses,  the  candidates  for  degrees,  the  Bachelors,  the  Trustees  of  the 
college,  the  Fellows,  the  Chancellor,  the  Governor  of  the  Colony,  and, 
lastly,  the  President.  When  they  were  seated,  the  President  introduced 
the  business  of  the  day  by  prayer ;  then  followed  the  salutatory  oration 
in  Latin,  by  Mr.  Dennis,  and  a  forensic  dispute,  with  which  ended  the 
exercises  of  the  forenoon. 


1 28  MANNING    AND  CHAP,  III. 

"  Those  of  the  afternoon  began  with  an  intermediate  oration  on  Catholi 
cism,  pronounced  by  Mr.  Foster;  then  followed  a  syllogistic  disputation 
in  Latin,  wherein  Mr.  Foster  was  respondent,  and  Messieurs  Nash,  Read, 
and  Dennis,  opponents.  After  this,  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  was 
conferred  on  Messieurs  John  Dennis,  Theodore  Foster,  Samuel  Nash,  and 
Seth  Eead  ;  and  the  degree  of  Master  on  the  Rev.  Isaac  Eaton,  Messieurs 
William  Bowen,  Benjamin  West,  David  Williams,  Joseph  Brown,  and 
Abel  Evans  ;  also  on  the  Rev.  Messieurs  Hugh  Evans,  Daniel  Turner, 
Samuel  James,  Benjamin  Beddome,  Benjamin  Wallin,  John  Reynolds, 
and  Isaac  Woodman.  To  which  succeeded  a  valedictory  oration  by  Mr. 
Read,  and  then  a  charge  to  the  graduates. 

"The  business  of  the  day  being  concluded,  and  before  the  assembly 
broke  up,  a  piece  from  Homer  was  pronounced  by  Master  Billy  Edwards,1 
one  of  the  grammar  school  boys,  not  nine  years  old.  This,  as  well  as  the 
other  performances,  gained  applause  from  a  polite  and  crowded  audience, 
and  afforded  pleasure  to  the  friends  of  the  institution.  But  what  greatly 
added  to  their  satisfaction,  was  an  opportunity  of  observing  the  forward 
ness  of  the  college  edifice,  the  first  stone  of  which  was  laid  not  longer 
since  than  the  latter  end  of  May  last,  and  'tis  expected  the  roof  will  be 
on  next  month.  It  is  a  neat  brick  building,  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
by  forty-six,  four  stories  high,  with  a  projection  in  the  middle  of  ten  feet 
on  each  side,  containing  an  area  of  sixty-three  feet  by  thirty,  for  a  hall 
and  other  public  uses.  The  building  will  accommodate  upwards  of  a 
hundred  students.  Its  situation  is  exceedingly  pleasant  and  healthy,  being 
on  the  summit  of  a  hill,  the  ascent  easy  and  gradual,  commanding  an  ex 
tensive  prospect  of  hills,  dales,  plains,  woods,  water,  islands,  etc.  Who 
hath  despised  the  day  of  small  things  ?  " 

The  following  letter  was  originally  published  in  Judge 
Staples's  Annals  of  Providence.  It  affords  a  good  illustra 
tion  of  the  early  discipline  of  the  college  under  the  care 
and  management  of  its  first  President. 

PROVIDENCE,  Dec.  12,  1770. 

SIR  :  —  You  may  think  strange  that  I,  a  stranger  to  you,  should  ad 
dress  you  by  this  epistle ;  but  you  will  excuse  me  when  I  give  the  reason  ; 
which  is,  an  information  that  I  have  received  that  one  Scott,  a  youth 

1  Son  of  the  Rev.  Morgau  Edwards.    He  graduated  in  the  Class  of  1776. 


1769-1770.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  T'23 

under  my  tuition,  some  time  ago  riding  through  Smithfield,  in  company 
with  one  Dennis,  of  Newport,  rode  up  to,,  and  in  a  most  audaciously 
wicked  manner,  broke  the  windows  of  the  Friends'  meeting-house  in  said 
town,  of  which  meeting  I  understand  you  arc  clerk.  Upon  the  first  hear 
ing  of  this  scandalous  conduct,  I  charged  him  with  the  fact,  which  he  con 
fessed,  with  no  small  degree  of  apparent  penitence  ;  whereupon  I  thought 
good  to  inform  you,  and  by  you  the  meeting,  that  they  shall  have  ample  rep 
aration  of  damages,  and  such  other  satisfaction  as  they  shall  think  proper ; 
being  determined  to  punish  with  the  utmost  rigor  all  such  perverse  youth 
as  may  be  intrusted  to  ray  care,  as  I  hold  such  base  conduct  in  the  great 
est  detestation, 

You  will  be  so  good  as  to  let  me  know  when  the  first  meeting  of  busi 
ness  is  held,  that  I  may  send  him  up  to  appear  before  them,  and  make 
not  only  reparation,  but  such  a  confession  before  the  meeting  as  shall  be 
fully  satisfactory.  I  choose  to  mortify  him  in  this  way,  and  should  be  very 
glad  that  some  of  the  heads  of  the  meeting  would  admonish  him  faithfully 
and  show  him  the  evil  of  such  doings,  if  this  would  be  agreeable  to  them ; 
but  I  speak  this,  not  to  direct  them  in  the  matter,  but  what  would  be 
agreeable  to  me.  When  this  is  settled,  we  shall  discipline  him  with  the 
highest  punishment  we  inflict,  next  to  banishment  from  the  society,  and 
with  that  if  he  does  not  comply  with  the  above. 

The  youth  has  been  but  few  months  under  my  care,  is  a  child  of  a  re 
spectable  family  in  Kingston,  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  had  his  school- 
learning  at  New  Haven.  I  am  sorry  for  his  friends,  arid  that  it  happened 
to  fall  to  my  lot  to  have  such  a  thoughtless,  vicious  pupil ;  but  I  am  deter 
mined  this  shall  be  the  last  enormity,  one  exceptcd,  of  which  he  shall  be 
guilty  while  under  my  care.  I  hope  the  meeting  will  inform  me  how  he 
complies  with  these  injunctions,  if  they  think  proper  to  take  these  or  any 
other  methods.  Please,  by  the  first  opportunity,  favor  me  with  a  line  in 
answer  to  the  above  requests,  and  you  will  do  a  favor  to 

A  real  friend, 

JAMES  MANNING. 
Mr.  Thomas  Lapham,  Jr.,  in  Smithfield. 

The  young  man,  Judge  Staples  adds,  appeared  before 
the  meeting,  according  to  the  direction  o£  the  President, 
made  a  suitable  acknowledgment  of  what  he  had  done, 
paid  the  damage  done  to  the  windows,  received  some 


1  '°>0  M  A  X  X  I  X  G    A  X  D  CHAP.  III. 

wholesome  admonition  and  advice,  arid  returned  to  his 
college  duties,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  a  better  man.  Whether 
his  associate  was  the  Dennis  who  graduated  the  Septem 
ber  previous  to  this  occurrence,  we  are  not  informed.  It 
is  certain  that  he  was  not  a  youth  or  person  over  whom 
Manning,  at  this  time,  had  any  special  control. 

It  would  seem  proper  to  introduce  here  some  account  of 
Backus,  Stillman,  and  Smith,  the  three  Baptist  clergymen 
of  New  England,  with  whom  Manning  was  intimately  as 
sociated,  and  to  whose  active  cooperation  in  all  his  plans 
for  the  advancement  of  learning  and  religion,  the  denom 
ination  at  the  present  day  is  so  largely  indebted  for  its 
prosperity  and  greatness. 

ISAAC    BACKUS. 

The  name  of  Backus,  it  will  be  observed,  is  of  frequent 
occurrence  throughout  our  wrork.  The  following  brief 
sketch  is  compiled  mainly  from  Prof.  Hovey's  Memoir,  to 
which  our  readers  are  referred  for  a  fuller  account  of  his 
character  and  life. 

The  Rev.  Isaac  Backus  was  born  at  Norwich,  Conn.,  on 
the  9th  of  January,  1724.  His  parents  were  members  of 
the  Congregational  church.  At  the  age  of  seventeen, 
during  the  excitement  that  prevailed  in  consequence  of 
the  preaching  of  Whitefield,  he  received  his  first  perma 
nent  religious  impressions,  and  united  with  the  church. 
Subsequently  he  was  led  to  devote  himself  to  the  preach 
ing  of  the  gospel.  In  1749  the  subject  of  baptism  was 
agitated  in  the  church  of  which  he  was  the  pastor,  and 
several  of  his  members  became,  in  consequence,  Baptists. 
Mr.  Backus  himself  was  soon  afterwards  baptized  by  im 
mersion.  On  the  16th  of  January,  175G,  the  First  Baptist 


1709-1770.  BROWN    TIN  I  VK  II  S  I  T  Y. 

Church  in  Middleborough  was  constituted,  and  he  became 
the  pastor.  This  relation  he  retained  until  the  close  of 
life. 

In  1772  he  was  chosen  agent  for  the  Baptist  churches 
in  Massachusetts,  in  place  of  Mr.  Davis,  whose  ill-health 
had  compelled  him  to  relinquish  his  charge  as  pastor  of  the 
Second  Church  in  Boston.  This  agency,  which  was  de 
signed  for  the  promotion  of  religious  liberty,  and  espe 
cially  to  secure  to  the  Baptists  an  exemption  from  the  bur 
dens  imposed  upon  them  by  law,  he  executed  with  great 
ability  and  success.  In  his  labors  in  connection  with  this 
agency,  he  was  greatly  assisted  by  Manning,  whose  supe 
rior  learning  and  more  skilful  pen  proved  invaluable  aids 
in  times  of  emergency. 

Mr.  Backus,  besides  his  volumes  of  history,  published  nu 
merous  discourses,  essays,  treatises  on  religious  liberty,  and 
controversial  tracts ;  a  list  of  which  is  given  in  the  account 
of  him  in  Sprague's  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit.  He 
died  on  the  20th  of  November,  180G,  in  the  eighty-third 
year  of  his  age,  and  in  the  sixtieth  of  his  ministry. 

"All  New  England,"  says  the  late  Hon.  'Zechariah 
Eddy,  "  is  indebted  to  Mr.  Backus  more,  I  think,  than  to 
any  other  man,  for  his  researches  in  relation  to  our  early 
ecclesiastical  history.  Mr.  Bancroft  bears  the  most  honor 
able  testimony  to  his  fidelity,  and  considers  his  history,  as 
to  its  facts,  more  to  be  depended  on  than  any  other  of  the 

early  histories  of  New  England In  his  own  day,  his 

labors  were  certainly  appreciated.  It  is  truly  wonderful 
that,  amidst  the  poverty  and  privations  incident  to  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  there  could  have  been  awakened 
interest  enough  to  defray  the  expense  of  publishing  large 
volumes,  of  history,  at  the  high  price  which  was  then  de 
manded  for  such  works.  .  .  .  Mr.  Backus  was  of  a  large,  ro- 


1 32  M  A  X  X  I  X  G    A  X  D  CHAP.  III. 

bust,  and  muscular  frame,  made  firm,  probably,  by  his  early 
agricultural  labors,  arid  by  his  travels  on  horseback  the 
greater  part  of  his  life.  His  large  face  and  head  appeared 
more  venerable  by  reason  of  his  very  large  wig  —  an  adorn 
ment  of  ministers  in  the  times  in  which  he  lived." 

Mr.  Backus,  we  may  add  in  conclusion,  was  a  Trustee 
of  the  college  for  a  period  of  thirty-four  years,  resigning 
his  place  in  1799,  in  consequence  of  the  infirmities  of  age, 
which  prevented  his  attendance  upon  the  meetings  of  the 
corporation. 

SAMUEL    STILLMAN. 

To  the  success  which  the  college  had  in  the  earlier  pe 
riods  of  its  history,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stillman,  it  may  truly  be 
said,  was  one  of  the  principal  contributors.  His  name  ap 
pears  in  the  act  of  incorporation  as  one  of  the  Trustees. 
In  1765  he  was  elected  a  Fellow,  an  office  which  he  held 
until  his  death,  a  period  of  more  than  forty  years. 

He  was  punctual  in  his  attendance  upon  all  the  regular 
meetings  of  the  corporation;  and  the  great  influence  which 
he  exerted  throughout  the  Baptist  denomination  was  cheer 
fully  given  in  aid  of  the  various  interests  of  the  college. 
The  following  brief  sketch  of  his  character  and  life  we 
have  compiled  from  memoirs  of  him  now  extant. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Stillman  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  Feb.  27,  1737.  At  the  age  of  eleven  he  re 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  where,  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Rind,  a  teacher  of  some  celebrity,  he 
received  the  rudiments  of  his  education.  He  early  gave 
promise  of  intellectual  and  moral  superiority.  Having 
become  the  subject  of  religious  impressions,  under  the 
preaching  of  the  Rev.  Oliver  Hart,  he  was  hopefully  con- 


1769-1770 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  133 


verted,  and  was  afterwards  received  into  the  church,  upon  a 
public  profession  of  his  faith  by  baptism.  He  pursued  his 
classical  studies  in  part  at  the  Hope  well  Academy,  being 
one  of  the  first  beneficiaries  of  "  The  Religious  Society," 
formed  in  1755,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  young  men  in 
preparing  for  the  ministry.  He  also  pursued  his  theologi 
cal  studies  at  Charleston,  under  the  care  of  his  pastor,  Mr. 
Hart.  On  the  20th  of  February,  1750,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two,  he  was  ordained,  in  the  city  of  his  home,  to  the  work 
of  an  evangelist.  His  first  settlement  in  the  ministry, 
which  occurred  shortly  after  his  ordination,  was  at  James 
Island,  a  beautiful  place  in  the  neighborhood  of  Charles 
ton.  About  this  time  he  married  a  Miss  Morgan,  daugh 
ter  of  a  highly  respectable  merchant,  and  sister  of  Dr. 
John  Morgan,  who  was  distinguished  as  a  surgeon  in  the 
Revolution.  This  marriage  proved  to  them  both  the 
source  of  long-continued  happiness.  She  was  the  mother 
of  fourteen  children,  only  two  of  whom,  however,  survived 
their  father.  On  the  9th  of  January,  1765,  he  was  installed 
as  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Boston.  This  was 
a  little  less  than  two  months  after  Manning  had  been 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  church  in  Warren.  Thencefor 
ward  these  two  distinguished  men' seem  closely  united  in 
their  efforts  to  bless  the  church,  and  to  elevate  the  charac 
ter  and  standing  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  Dr.  Still- 
man  retained  his  connection  with  the  First  Church  in  Bos 
ton  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  13th  of  March, 
1807,  at  the  age  of  seventy.  , 

Dr.  Stillman's  congregation  at  the  time  of  his  settle 
ment  was  the  smallest  in  town.  He  left  it  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  respectable.  As  a  popular  preacher  he 
had  no  superior  in  New  England.  Among  his  admirers 
were  the  elder  President  Adams,  General  Knox,  and  Gov- 
12 


M  A  X  X  I X  G    A  X  D  CHAP.  III. 

ernor  Hancock;  the  hitter  of  whom  was  for  a  season  a 
member  of  his  congregation.  No  clergyman  of  the  day 
was  so  much  sought  after  by  distinguished  strangers  who 
visited  the  metropolis.  His  services  were  often  required 
on  public  occasions,  and  he  rarely  if  ever  failed  to  meet 
the  highest  expectations.  "In  his  person,"  says  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Jenks,  "he  was  slender,  and  very  small  in  size  (weigh 
ing  less  than  one  hundred  pounds) ;  agile  in  movement  and 
erect  in  bearing  ;  in  address  polite,  combining  dignity  with 
condescending  kindness,  so  as  to  maintain  rank  with  the 
most  eminent,  though  affable  with  the  meanest.  He  was 
scrupulously  neat  in  his  dress,  wearing,  as  in  his  painted 
and  engraved  portrait,  a  wig  such  as  was  in  his  day  com 
mon,  with  a  gown  and  bands."  A  volume  of  his  sermons 
was  published  irr  1808,  with  a  portrait,  and  a  biographical 
sketch  of  the  author.  In  Sprague's  Annals  of  the  Ameri 
can  Pulpit,  Vol.  VI.,  may  be  found  a  highly  interesting 
sketch  of  Dr.  Stillman,  accompanied  with  letters  or  remi 
niscences  from  James  Loring,  Esq.,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wm. 
Jenks  ;  also  a  fine  engraved  likeness. 

A  view  of  the  meeting-house  in  which  Dr.  Stillman 
preached  may  be  found  in  Drake's  History  and  Antiqui 
ties  of  Boston.  It  was  built  in  1771,  and  dedicated  on  the 
22d  of  December  of  that  year.  Its  dimensions  were  fifty- 
seven  feet  long  by  fifty-three  feet  wide.  In  1791  the  house 
was  enlarged,  this  step  having  been  rendered  necessary  by 
the  great  increase  of  the  society.  Its  site  having  become 
valuable  for  stores  and  inconvenient  for  public  worship, 
the  place  was  sold  in  1853,  and  the  old  building  turned  into 
shops  for  mart  and  trade.  The  proceeds  of  the  sale  have 
enabled  the  society  to  rear  the  most  conspicuous  spire  in 
the  city,  upon  the  east  point  of  Beacon  Hill,  overlooking 
the  State  House  even,  and  commanding  a  view  of  the  city 


17G9-1770.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  135 

and  surrounding  country,  not  surpassed,  if  equalled,  by 
any  other.  "To  such  an  eminence,"  says  Drake,  "has  that 
church  attained,  whose  foundation  was  obliged  to  be  clan 
destinely  laid  by  its  original  founders.  The  present  grand 
and  lofty  steeple  will,  it  is  hoped,  long  stand,  not  only  an 
ornament  to  the  city,  but  as  a  beacon  for  the  intolerant." 
The  following  is  a  list  of  the  ministers  of  this  church  as  re 
corded  by  Winchell  and  others  :  Thomas  Gould,  1GG5-75; 
John  Russell,  1675-80;  John  Miles,  1083;  John  Emblen, 
1GS4-9D  ;  Ellis  Cullender,  1708-18  ;  Elisha  Callcnder, 
1718-38;  Jeremiah  Condy,  1739-G4;  Samuel  Stillman, 
1765-1807;  Joseph  Clay,  1807-9;  James  M.  Winchell, 
1813-20 ;  Francis  Wayland,  1821-26  ;  Cyrus  P.  Gros- 
venor,  1827-30 ;  William  Plague,  1831-37 ;  Rollin  H.  Neale, 
1837 . 

HEZEKIAH    SMITH. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Hezekiah  Smith,  whose  relations  with 
Manning  from  early  manhood  down  to  the  close  of  life 
were  those  of  the  closest  intimacy,  was  born  on  Long  Isl 
and,  New  York,  on  the  21st  of  April,  1758.  In  his  youth 
he  became  pious,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  joined  the 
Baptist  church  in  New  York  City  then  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  the  Rev.  John  Gano.  He  commenced  his  classical 
education  at  Hopewell,  entered  the  College  of  New  Jer 
sey  at  Princeton,  and  graduated  in  the  year  1762,  in  the 
same  class  with  President  Manning.  After  leaving  college 
he  travelled  through  the  Southern  provinces,  in  order  to 
recover  his  health,  which  had  become  somewhat  impaired 
by  too  close  confinement  to  his  studies.  In  a  single  year 
he  made  a  tour  of  four  thousand  miles,  and  laid  the  foun 
dations  of  lasting  friendship  with  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Hart, 


130  M  A  N  N I N  G    A  N  D  CHAP.  III. 

Pelot,  and  others  of  a  kindred  spirit,  whose  intercourse 
and  correspondence  proved  a  delight  to  him  in  his  riper 
years.  At  Charleston,  S.  C.,  he  was  ordained  by  sev 
eral  ministers  of  the  Charleston  Association.  The  Baptist 
church  in  Haverhill,  Mass.,  gathered  through  Mr.  Smith's 
instrumentality,  was  organized  on  the  9th  of  May,  1765, 
and  he  was  chosen  the  pastor.  He  was  duly  installed  on 
the  12th  of  Nov.,  17GG.  The  ministers  who  officiated 
upon  this  occasion  were  President  Manning,  Dr.  Stillman, 
and  the  Rev.  John  Gano.  The  relations  which  Dr.  Smith 
thus  assumed  he  sustained  during  a  period  of  forty  years. 
Under  his  ministry  the  church  soon  acquired  great  influ 
ence  in  the  town,  and  indeed  throughout  all  the  surround 
ing  country. 

On  Thursday,  June  27,  1771,  Dr.  Smith,  as  we  find  it 
stated  in  his  diary,  wras  married  to  Miss  Hephzibah  Kim- 
ball,  of  Boxford,  Mass.  This  most  estimable  woman 
was  a  stranger  to  religion  at  the  time  of  their  mar 
riage.  Her  husband's  letters  to  her  during  his  service  in 
the  army  express  the  most  affectionate  yearnings  for  her 
spiritual  welfare.  She  survived  him  many  years,  dying 
Dec.  9th,  1824.  They  had  four  children,  namely,  three  sons 
and  a  daughter. 

In  the  year  1775, our  struggle  with  the  mother  country 
commenced.  The  Baptists  had  always  been  the  friends  of 
civil  and  religious  freedom,  and  at  this  critical  period  they 
were  ready  to  pledge  their  fortunes  and  lives  in  the  defence 
of  their  country.  Their  chaplains,  as  Washington  him 
self  testifies,  were  among  the  most  prominent  and  useful 
in  the  army.  True  to  his  patriotic  principles,  Dr.  Smith, 
notwithstanding  the  tender  ties  binding  him  to  his  people 
and  home,  left  llaverhill  immediately  upon  the  breaking 
out  of  hostilities,  and  joined  the  American  army.  Here, 


1769-1770. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  137 


as  chaplain,  he  continued  five  years.  He  became,  says  his 
biographer,  the  intimate  friend  of  Washington,  and  pos 
sessed  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  officers  and  men 
of  the  whole  army.  Repeatedly  he  exposed  his  life  in  bat 
tle  ;  and  he  was  always  among  the  foremost  in  encouraging 
the  soldiers,  and  in  soothing  the  sorrows  of  the  wounded 
and  the  dying.  On  all  occasions  he  reproved  vice,  with  a 
boldness  of  tone  and  manner  which,  contrasting  with  his 
gentleness  in  the  approval  of  virtue,  awed  the  most  hard 
ened  into  respect  and  fear. 

After  the  clouds  of  war  had  been  dispersed,  Dr.  Smith 
returned  joyfully  to  his  family  and  his  parish,  and  to  the 
sacred  duties  to  which  he  had  consecrated  his  life.  In  his 
work  at  home  and  in  his  missionary  tours  abroad  his  time 
was  fully  occupied,  and  the  even  tenor  of  life  flowed  on. 
He  died  Jan.  22,  1805,  in  the  sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age. 
An  impressive  discourse  was  preached  at  his  funeral,  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Stillman,  from  Acts  xiii.  36,  which  discourse  was 
afterwards  published.  His  ashes  repose  in  the  village 
graveyard  at  Ilaverhill,  surrounded  by  the  remains  of  his 
family  and  friends. 

Dr.  Smith  was  a  man  of  commanding  presence,  large 
and  well  proportioned,  inspiring  respect  by  his  dignity,  and 
winning  affection  by  his  affability  and  grace.  His  voice 
was  one  of  unusual  compass  and  power,  and  his  genuine 
eloquence  opened  a  way  for  his  message.  His  views  of 
truth  were  strictly  evangelical,  and  his  ministry  combined, 
in  due  proportions,  the  doctrinal,  the  practical,  and  the  ex 
perimental.  He  never  wrote  his  sermons,  but  uniformly 
went  into  his  study  on  Thursday  morning,  and  devoted 
the  residue  of  the  week  to  careful  preparation  for  the  du 
ties  of  the  Sabbath.  As  an  illustration  of  his  pastoral  and 
missionary  labors,  it  is  stated  in  the  journal  to  which  we 
12* 


138  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 

have  already  referred,  that,  from  the  time  when  lie  entered 
the  ministry  to  Aug.  1, 1773,  he  baptized  two  hundred  and 
ninety-four  persons. 

The  following  amusing  instance  of  persecution  which 
occurred  to  him  is  mentioned  by  his  biographer,  Dr.  S.  F. 
Smith,  as  an  illustration  of  the  times  in  which  he  lived. 
The  constable  of  a  neighboring  town,  where  Mr.  Smith 
had  gone  to  preach,  a  weak  and  inferior-looking  person, 
was  moved  to  go,  clothed  in  the  mnjcsty  of  the  law,  and 
"  warn  him  out  of  the  place."  The  little  officer,  on  com 
ing  into  the  presence  of  one  of  such  commanding  person, 
and  bearing  all  the  airs  of  a  consummate  gentleman,  on 
such  an  errand  was  very  naturally  much  confused,  and, 
on  opening  his  mouth  to  deliver  his  message,  said,  "I 
warn  you  —  off  of  God's  earth."  "  My  good  sir,"  said  the 
preacher,  "  where  shall  I  go  ?  "  "  Go  anywhere,"  was  the 
reply;  "go  to  the  Isle  of  Shoals."  It  may  be  presumed, 
says  the  narrator,  that  the  expounder  of  law  was  scarcely 
aware  of  the  indignity  done  to  the  inhabitants  of  those 
seagirt  rocks  in  placing  their  geographical  position  so  far 
out  of  the  ordinary  track  of  navigators. 

Dr.  Smith  was  one  of  the  first  Fellows  of  the  college, 
retaining  this  position  until  his  death,  a  period  of  nearly 
forty  years.  How  zealously  he  labored,  with  Manning,  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  the  institution,  these  pages  through 
out  abundantly  show.  He  was  conscientiously  faithful  in 
attending  the  annual  Commencements,  frequently  preach 
ing  the  sermon  customary  upon  those  occasions,  and,  on 
the  ensuing  Sabbath,  occupying  the  pulpit  of  the  Baptist 
church.  His  visits  to  Providence  were  hailed  with  pleas 
ure,  especially  by  his  friend  Mr.  Nicholas  Brown,  whose 
hospitalities  he  shared,  and  at  whose  house  he  was  a  wel 
come  and  frequent  guest.  The  last  meeting  of  the  cor- 


1 760-1770.  B  R  0  W  N    TT  N I V  K  R  S  I T  Y. 


139 


poration  which  he  ever  attended  was  in  September,  1804, 
only  four  months  before  his  death.1 

Among  the  papers  and  correspondence  of  Mr.  Smith 
are  numerous  letters  written  by  him  to  his  wife  during  his 
service  in  the  army.  From  these  we  present  a  few  extracts, 
as  an  illustration  of  the  spirit  and  patriotism  of  the  man, 
and  as  a  valuable  contribution  to  the  history  of  the  war. 

CAMP  WINTER  HILL,  July  31,  1775. 

MY  DEAR  AND  LOVING  WlFE  : 

Last  night  and  this  morning  we  had  several  skirmishes  with  the  regu 
lars.  Near  the  common,  before  you  come  to  Charlestown  Neck,  was  one, 
in  which  our  people  killed  one  regular,  and  got  four  or  five  of  their  guns, 
without  losing  a  man.  The  second  was  at  Koxbury  Neck,  in  which 
we  lost  none,  although  we  took  three  of  the  regulars,  besides  those  that 
were  wounded.  The  third  was  at  the  Lighthouse,  which  the  regulars 
and  Tories  were  rebuilding,  in  which  we  lost  one  or  two  men,  and  had  a 
small  number  wounded.  Our  forces  killed  their  captain  of  the  guard, 
and  took  about  twenty-five  regulars  and  eleven  Tories  prisoners,  besides 
the  wounded.  The  pilot  who  pilots  vessels  in  and  out  of  Boston  harbor 
was  one  of  them.  Thirty-six  men  were  brought  into  Cambridge  just  be 
fore  sunset,  as  I  am  informed.  The  Tories  hang  their  heads. 

CAMP  WINTER  HILL,  March  11,  1776. 

Since  my  last,  the  movements  of  the  ministerial  army  give  us  reason  to 
think  they  are  about  leaving  Boston ;  but  in  what  direction  they  will  go 
from  thence  is  uncertain.  We  expect  they  will  aim  for  the  Southern  col 
onies.  If  so,  our  army  will  soon  move,  and  be  ready  to  attack  them  where 
they  land.  The  general  order  of  to-day  is,  for  all  the  army  to  get  ready 
for  a  speedy  remove.  The  field  officers  of  the  regiments  I  serve,  as  well 
as  others,  insist  upon  my  going  with  them  ;  and,  I  must  confess,  the  pros 
pect  of  usefulness  in  the  glorious  cause  of  our  country,  joined  with  that  of 
usefulness  to  souls,  inclines  me  to  yield  to  their  request.  And  since  my 
people  as  a  body  have  not  manifested  their  disapprobation  of  my  being  in 
the  army,  during  the  present  campaign,  I  think  they  cannot  justly  blame 
me  in  struggling  with  others  for  the  salvation  of  America,  especially  the 

i  Sprague's  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit. 


MANNING   AND  CHAP.  III. 

United  Colonies  in  America.  Your  zeal  for  the  cause,  united  with  con 
sideration,  will,  I  doubt  not,  cause  you  to  yield  to  the  disagreeable  parting 
for  a  few  months. 

CAMP  WINTER  HILL,  March  20,  1776. 

This  day  I  was  in  Boston,  where  I  saw  a  number  of  houses  destroyed 
by  the  regulars  ;  but  the  damage  in  that  town  is  not  so  great  as  I  expected ; 
and  what  they  left  amounts  to  a  large  sum,  which  is  a  proof  that  they  left 
the  town  in  great  fear,  and  with  much  precipitation.  We  have  no  partic 
ular  orders  about  marching  to  the  southward  yet,  but  I  am  confident  we 
shall  be  obliged  to  go  before  long.  If  so,  you  will  not  expect  to  sec  me 
at  Havcrhill  very  soon,  as  my  horse  is  low  in  flesh,  and  not  so  well  fitted 
for  a  long  journey  as  I  could  wish.  You  may  well  judge  that  so  long  an 
absence  from  home  is  equally  disagreeable  to  me  ns  to  you  ;  but  as  duty 
in  the  course  of  Providence  requires  it,  we  ought  to  be  reconciled  to  it, 
and  bear  up  under  it  with  a  becoming  fortitude.  Let  us  place  our  confi 
dence  in  God,  and  take  delight  in  him  the  Supreme  Good.  Then  shall 
we  be  happy,  and  the  time  will  not  seem  so  tedious  to  us  during  my  ab- 

scncc I  a»>  sorry  my  good    Deacon  Shepherd    discovered  such  a 

temper  at  my  yielding  to  what  I  think  is  my  duty.  It  will  be  the  best  for 
you  not  to  say  much  about  it ;  and  if  you  hear  reflections  cast  upon  me, 
not  to  resent  them,  but  to  let  them  pass.  The  least  said  is  the  best. 


CAMP  NEW  YORK,  June  8,  1776. 

We  have  expected  something  would  be  done  before  now  by  the  minis 
terial  troops  in  this  city  ;  but  their  exported  army  has  not,  I  believe,  yet 
arrived.  Only  a  few  vessels  lay  down  at  the  Hook  at  present.  Our  men 
in  general  arc  healthy,  and  are  daily  at  work  in  preparing  for  the  enemy. 
If  the  enemy  should  take  New  York,  I  am  persuaded  they  will  find  great 
difficulty,  and  sustain  great  loss  in  the  acquisition.  We  received  in  this 
city  the  good  news  of  our  privateers'  .'ucccss  in  taking  throe  large  vessels, 
whose  valuable  cargoes  we  have  sent  to  New  England.  I  hope  they  will 
arrive  safe.  The  Congress  has  greatly  increased  the  American  army,  so 
that,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  I  hope  the  ministerial  army  will  be  disap 
pointed  the  present  campaign.  I  long  to  sec  vital  piety  abound,  and  true 
godliness  prevail  ;  then  would  I  pronounce  America  blessed,  arid  her 
sons  and  daughters  free. 


1709-1770.  IHIOWX   UNIVERSITY.  141 

CAMP  NEW  YORK,  June  27,  1776. 

In  my  last  I  informed  you  that  there  had  been  a  plot  formed  in  this 
city  to  destroy  our  generals  and  blow  up  the  magazine,  but  that  it  had 
been  providentially  discovered.  The  Mayor  of  this  city,  amongst  many 
others,  is  in  confinement.  I  hope  they  will  meet  with  their  just  reward. 
They  arc  now  under  examination  daily.  The  British  fleet  has  not  yet 
arrived.  Our  army  is  strong,  and  great  preparations  are  making  in  this 

place  for  the  enemy Things  are  very  dear  here.     I  gave  ten  coppers 

yesterday  for  about  one  pint  of  strawberries.  One  may  readily  spend  the 
most  of  his  wages  in  this  place.  Some  do  spend  the  whole  of  their  wages, 
I  suppose,  if  not  more.  However,  if  we  can  but  live  and  get  the  victory,  it 
will  be  a  favor ;  when  we  die,  we  shall  not  want  any  of  this  world. 

CAMP  STILL  WATER,  Aug.  5,  1777. 

We  came  to  this  place  last  Lord's  Day  evening ;  but  how  long  we  shall 
tarry  here  I  cannot  say.  Our  State  of  Massachusetts  Bay  is  shamefully 
deficient  in  the  number  of  Continental  troops.  We  have  not  one  half  our 
number  here  yet,  and  what  will  be  the  consequence  I  cannot  say.  Hope 
kind  Providence  will  excite  our  people  to  a  more  vigorous  exertion  than 
heretofore,  and  that  a,  glorious  event  in  favor  of  America  will  yet  take 
place  this  present  campaign.  I  am  yet  sanguine  in  my  expectations,  and 
trust  the  American  armv  will  be  victorious. 


CAMP  SXILLAVATER,   Sept.  13,  1777. 

We  arc  now  on  our  march  up  the  river  to  meet  Mr.  Burgoyne  with  his 
boasted  strength.  Expect  soon  to  engage  him,  unless  lie  should  retreat. 
Our  army  is  in  good  spirits.  We  have  a  good  commander,  Gen.  Gates,  and 
a  large  body  of  troops  ;  so  that  I  don't  doubt  of  success,  unless  we  should 
put  our  trust  in  the  arm  of  flesh,  which  is  forever  attended  with  a  curse. 
With  the  blessing  of  Heaven,  I  expect  our  army  will  soon  do  something 
grand  for  the  salvation  of  our  country. 

CAMP  STILLWATER,  Oct.  3,  1777. 

Since  the  battle  mentioned  in  a  former  letter,  we  have  either  taken 
prisoners,  or  had  deserters  come  in  from  the  enemy  almost  every  day.  I 
have  expected  a  general  engagement  before  now,  but  when  it  will  take 
place  I  know  not.  From  the  best  information  we  understand  that  the 
enemy's  provisions  grow  short. 


142  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 

CAMP  ALBANY,  Oct.  22,  1777. 

Although  I  sent  you  a  letter  since  our  total  conquest  of  Gen.  Burgoyne's 
army,  in  which  I  enclosed  the  articles  of  capitulation;  yet  I  am  loth  to 
miss  this  opportunity  by  Mr.  Chadwick  to  let  you  know  that  I  am  in  a 
good  state  of  health,  ready  to  serve  my  country  in  the  reduction  of  our 
enemies  to  the  southward,  if  Gen.  Washington  should  stand  in  need. 
We  have  no  very  late  intelligence  from  him  ;  but  the  last  we  had  was  fa 
vorable,  and  we  daily  expect  to  hear  of  a  general  battle.  Hope  the  Lord 
will  give  success  to  our  arms.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  taken,  killed, 
etc.,  of  Gen.  Burgoyne's  army  :  — 

British  troops  by  capitulation, 2442 

Foreigners, 2198 

Prisoners  sent  to  Canada", 1100 

Staff, 12 

Sick  and  wounded, 528 

Prisoners  of  war, 300 

Deserters, 400 

Took  at  Bennington, 1220 

Killed  between  Sept.  18th  and  Oct.  8th,    .......  600 

Taken  at  Ticonderoga, 413 

Total, 9213 

The  number  of  killed  and  taken  at  Fort  Stanwick  I  cannot  ascertain. 
Gen.  Burgoyne  and  three  other  officers  taken  were  members  of  the  British 
Parliament. 

CAMP  CONTINENTAL  VILLAGE,  July  14,  1780. 

There  are  great  preparations  making  to  do  something  capital  this  cam 
paign,  and  it  is  my  opinion  that  a  vigorous  exertion  will  be  made  for  New 
York,  in  which  enterprise  I  expect  many  will  lose  their  lives.  Oh  that 
they  may  be  prepared  by  grace  for  such  an  event  !  I  have  reason  to 
think  that  my  poor  endeavors  have  been  blessed  to  the  awakening  of  sev 
eral  persons  in  Peekskill  since  my  arrival.  Oh  that  conviction  might 
terminate  in  conversion  !  Next  Lord's  Day  I  expect  to  preach  to  my 
brigade  for  the  first  time  since  I  joined  them  this  season  ;  for  I  found  the 
brigade  so  scattered,  and  taken  up  with  guards,  etc.,  that  the  brigade 
major  said  that  he  could  not  turn  any  out  for  public  exercise,  nor  even 
furnish  men  to  relieve  the  guards.  But  now  the  recruits  have  joined  us 
we  arc  able  to  have  religious  worship  in  camp  again  ;  and  I  pray  that  my 
prenrhing  inny  be  attended  \viih  power. 


1769-1770. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  143 


The  present  seems  a  fitting  place  to  make  special  men 
tion  of  the  BROWNS,  whose  names  so  frequently  occur 
throughout  these  pages.  They  were  Manning's  intimate 
friends.  To  their  vigorous  and  united  efforts  the  college 
is  largely  indebted  for  its  early  prosperity  arid  growth,  if 
not  for  its  very  existence.  Their  ancestors  were  among 
the  founders  and  prominent  members  both  of  the  colony 
and  of  the  Baptist  church.  Their  descendants,  in  pious 
emulation  of  their  fathers,  have  nobly  contributed  of  their 
abundant  wealth  to  the  present  resources  of  the  institution, 
—  its  spacious  grounds,  its  buildings,  its  library  and  ap 
paratus,  and  its  endowments  and  funds,  —  and  Brown  Uni 
versity  will  transmit,  to  the  latest  posterity  the  many  vir 
tues  and  generous  deeds  of  the  family  whose  honored  name 
it  bears. 

I.      CHAD    BROWN. 

Concerning  the  remote  ancestry  of  the  Brown  family  in 
Rhode  Island,  but  little  is  now  known.  That  they  are  the 
descendants  of  some  one  of  the  hundred  and  fifty-five  fam 
ilies  bearing  that  name  in  England,  Ireland,  and  Scotland, 
whose  escutcheons,  or  armorial  bearings,  are  described  in 
Burke's  Encyclopaedia  of  Heraldry,  is  at  least  probable. 
The  Rev.  Chad  Brown  (or  Browne,  as  the  name  was  at 
first  written)  came  over  from  England,  according  to  Savage, 
in  his  recent  edition  of  Winthrop's  History  of  New  Eng 
land,  in  the  ship  Martin,  during  the  month  of  July,  1638.1 

»  "  Two  ships,"  says  Winthrop,  "  which  came  over  this  year  (1638),  much  pes 
tered,  lost  many  passengers  and  some  principal  men."  In  a  note  upon  this  pas 
sage,  Savage,  after  speaking  of  the  Nicholas  of  London  as  one  of  the  pestered 
ships,  remarks  as  follows:  "  Another  of  the  pestered  ships  prohably  was  the 
Martin,  coming  nearly  at  the  same  time  with  the  Nicholas.  I  know,  at  least, 
that  the  nuncupative  will  of  Sylvester  Baldwin,  one  of  her  passengers,  who  died 
on  the  ocean,  was  proved  July  13th,  of  this  year,  by  Chad  Brown,  and  other  fel- 


144  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 

Winthrop  states  that  "  there  came  over  this  summer 
twenty  ships,  and  at  least  three  thousand  persons,  so  as 
they  were  forced  to  look  out  new  plantations."  It  was 
during  this  period,  also,  that  many  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Boston,  "  and  others  who  were  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson's  judg 
ment  and  party,  removed  to  the  Isle  of  Aquiday  (Rhode 
Island)  ;  and  others  who  were  of  the  rigid  separation,  and 
savored  anabaptism,  removed  to  Providence,  so  as  those 
parts  began  to  be  well  peopled."  In  this  latter  class,  thus 
described  by  Winthrop,  may  be  included  Chad  Brown ; 
who,  with  his  wife  Elizabeth  and  his  little  family,  at  once 
sought  a  permanent  home  in  the  land  which  had  afforded 
a  friendly  shelter  to  Roger  Williams  and  his  companions. 
The  precise  date  of  his  arrival  at  Providence  cannot  now 
be  ascertained,  as  the  early  records  of  the  town  were 
loosely  kept,  and  many  of  them  were  afterwards  destroyed 
during  the  so-called  King  Philip's  War.  From  the  doc 
uments  that  have  come  down  to  us,  it  is  evident  that  he 
soon  exercised  an  important  influence,  as  a  leading  man 
in  the  colony.  The  first  written  or  civil  compact  of  which 

low-passengers,  before  Deputy  Governor  Dudley.  His  wife  and  children  are 
named."  It  has  been  asserted  that  Chad  Brown  was  "  one  of  that  little  company 
who  fled  with  Roger  Williams  from  the  persecution  of  the  then  Colony  of  Massa 
chusetts."  The  epitaph  on  his  tombstone,  erected  by  the  town  of  Providence, 
three  quarters  of  a  century  ago,  states  that  he  was  "  exiled  from  Massachusetts 
for  conscience  sake."  Prof.  Gammell,  in  his  Memoir  of  Nicholas  Brown,  says 
that  he  arrived  at  Providence  in  the  year  1636,  a  few  months  after  the  arrival  of 
Roger  Williams.  Dr.  Hague,  in  his  historical  discourse  delivered  at  the  second 
centennial  anniversary  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  makes  a  similar  assertion. 
Among  the  papers  of  the  late  Moses  Brown,  we  find  it  stated  that  he  came  from 
Salem,  Mass.,  in  the  year  1637.  Edwards,  Backus,  and  Benedict  are  equally 
confused  in  their  brief  notices  respecting  the  early  history  of  the  great  ancestor 
of  the  family  from  which  the  college  derives  its  name.  Mr.  Savage,  in  his  re 
marks  as  above  quoted,  proves  conclusively  that  Chad  Brown  came  to  Provi 
dence  in  1638,  more  than  two  years  after  the  arrival  of  Roger  Williams  and  his 
five  companions.  For  a  further  illustration  of  this  point,  see  Savage's  Genea 
logical  Dictionary  of  New  England,  Vol.  I.  p.  265. 


1769-1770.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  145 

we  have  any  knowledge  has  his  signature,  with  that  of 
twelve  others.  A  full  account  of  this  compact,  which  was 
probably  entered  into  soon  after  Mr.  Brown's  arrival,  may 
be  found  in  Staples's  Annals  of  Providence. 

On  the  8th  of  October,  1638,  Roger  Williams  executed 
a  deed,  known  as  the  "  initial  deed,"  granting  to  twelve 
of  his  companions  an  equal  share  with  himself  of  the  lands 
which  he  had  purchased  from  the  Indians.  Tnese,  there 
fore,  including  the  grantor,  constituted  the  original  thirteen 
proprietors  of  Providence.  Soon  after  the  execution  of 
this  deed,  the  proprietors  divided  the  lands  thus  obtained 
into  two  parts,  —  one  called  "the  grand  purchase  of  Prov 
idence,"  the  other  "the  Pawtuxet  purchase."  Great  dis 
sensions  and  difficulties  grew  out  of  this  division,  in  al 
lusion  to  which  Roger  Williams,  in  his  plea  before  the 
Court  of  the  New  England  Colonies,  in  Providence,  in  the 
year  1677,  gives  the  following  brief  but  comprehensive 
view  of  Mr.  Brown's  character  and  personal  influence : 
"  The  truth  is,  Chad  Browne,  that  wise  and  godly  soul 
(now  with  God),  with  myself,  brought  the  remaining 
aftercomers  and  the  first  twelve  to  a  oneness  by  arbitra 
tion."  In  the  first  of  the  aforementioned  divisions,  "  the 
grand  purchase,"  are  recorded  in  a  small  book,  among  the 
files  of  the  city  clerk's  office,  the  names  of  fifty-four  per 
sons  as  the  owners  of  "  home-lots,"  as  they  were  called, 
extending  from  the  "  town  street "  (now  North  and  South 
Main  Streets)  eastward  to  Hope  Street.  Among  the 
names  thus  recorded  is  that  of  Chad  Brown.  In  addition 
to  these  lots,  each  person  had  a  six-acre  lot  assigned  to 
him  in  other  parts  of  the  purchase ;  some  on  the  banks  of 
the  Seekonk,  where  Roger  Williams's  out-lot  was  located, 
and  some  on  the  Wanasquatucket  river.  We  are  thus 
particular  in  these  details,  because  the  college,  as  we  have 
13 


MANNING  AND  CHAP.  IIL 

already  seen,  was  located  upon  a  portion  of  the  home-lot 
of  Chad  Brown. 

In  1640  Mr.  Brown  was  appointed  a  committee,  with 
Robert  Cole,  William  Harris,  and  John  Warner,  to  draw 
up  a  plan  of  agreement  for  the  peace  and  government  of 
the  town ;  the  growth  of  the  colony  having  rendered  the 
purely  democratic  government,  adopted  at  the  first,  im 
practicable.  To  this  plan,  consisting  of  twelve  articles  of 
agreement,  his  name  is  the  first  signed,  followed  by  the 
signatures  of  thirty-eight  others.  It  went  into  immediate 
operation,  and  for  several  years  constituted  the  only  ac 
knowledged  government  of  the  town.  In  1643  he  was 
employed,  with  three  others,  in  making  peace  between  the 
people  of  Warwick  and  the  Massachusetts  Government. 
The  whole  of  this  affair,  which  forms  a  painful  chapter  in 
our  early  New  England  annals,  is  told  at  length  by  the  prin 
cipal  actor,  Samuel  Gorton,  in  his  "  Simplicity's  Defence," 
which,  with  Staples's  notes,  may  be  found  in  the  second 
volume  of  the  publications  of  the  Rhode  Island  Historical 
Society.  In  addition  to  his  various  public  duties,  he  was 
also  a  surveyor  of  land,  and  thus  rendered  important  servi 
ces  to  the  town.  In  1660,  as  appears  by  the  records,  he 
was  appointed,  with  John  Throckmorton  and  Gregory 
Dexter,  to  compile  a  list  of  the  first  town  lots,  from  Mile- 
end  Cove,  north  of  Fox  Point,  to  Olney's  Lane,  and  note 
the  several  divisions  and  grants  of  land  made  previous  to 
that  date.  This  list  or  record,  much  worn  and  defaced,  is 
now  on  file  at  the  clerk's  office. 

But  it  is  as  a  minister  of  religion,  as  the  "  first  elder  " 
of  the  oldest  Baptist  church  in  America,  that  Chad  Brown 
claims  our  especial  attention.  It  is  true  that  the  distin 
guished  honor  of  founding  this  church  belongs  to  Roger 
Williams ;  who,  having  been  baptized  by  Ezekiel  Holliman, 


1709-1770. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  147 


«  a  man  of  gifts  and  piety,"  baptized  the  administrator  and 
ten  others,  in  the  month  of  March,  1639.  But  in  a  few 
months,  says  Scott,1  a  contemporary  with  Williams,  and  one 
of  the  thirteen  original  proprietors  of  the  soil,  "  he  broke 
from  the  society,  and  declared  at  large  the  grounds  and 
reason  of  it, — that  their  baptism  could  not  be  right,  because 
it  was  not  administered  by  an  apostle."  He  became  what, 
in  the  history  of  New  England,  is  denominated  a  Seeker  ; 
a  term,  says  Prof.  Gammell,  not  inaptly  applied  to  those 
who,  in  any  age  of  the  church,  become  dissatisfied  with 
its  prevailing  creeds  and  institutions,  and  seek  for  more 
congenial  views  of  truth,  or  a  faith  better  adapted  to  their 
spiritual  wants.  Those  writers  who  desire  to  place  Roger 
Williams  at  the  head  of  the  Baptist  ministers  of  America, 
do  not  sufficiently  regard  the  facts  as  recorded  in  history. 
He  indeed  was  instrumental  in  planting  and  establishing 
the  Baptist  denomination  in  this  country;  but  his  true 
glory  and  greatness  consist,  not  in  his  vocation  as  a  Baptist 
preacher,  but  in  his  wisdom  and  benevolence  as  a  legis 
lator,  in  founding,  says  a  distinguished  German  statesman 
arid  scholar,2  "in  1636,  a  small  new  society  in  Rhode  Isl 
and,  upon  the  principles  of  entire  liberty  of  conscience, 
and  the  uncontrolled  power  of  the  majority  in  secular 
concerns," — principles,  the  same  author  continues,  which 
have  not  only  maintained  themselves  here,  but  have 
spread  over  the  whole  Union,  superseding  the  aristocratic 
commencements  of  Carolina  and  of  New  York,  the  High- 

1  Richard  Scott.    See  his  letter  respecting  Koger  Williams  in  Fox's  "  New 
England  Fire  Brand  Quenched,"  Part  II.,  p.  247.    He  came  to  Providence  in 
1638.    He  was  at  first  a  Baptist,  but  afterwards  became  a  Quaker.    One  of  his 
descendants  was  married  to  Judge  Jenckes,  and  thus  became  the  grandmother 
of  the  late  Hon.  Nicholas  Brown. 

2  Professor  Gervinus.     See  his  recent  "Introduction  to  the  History  of  the 
Nineteenth  Century." 


148  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 

Church  party  in  Virginia,  the  theocracy  in  Massachusetts, 
and  the  monarchy  throughout  America;  which  have  given 
laws  to  one  quarter  of  t!ie  globe,  and  which  stand  in  the 
background  of  every  democratic  struggle  in  Europe. 

In  the  year  1642,  Mr.  Williams  was  appointed  by  the 
colonists  to  visit  England  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  a 
charter ;  when  Mr.  Brown,  having  been  formally  ordained, 
assumed  the  pastoral  office.  Associated  with  him  wese 
the  Rev.  Messrs.  Thomas  Olney,  William  Wickenden,  and 
Gregory  Dexter.  The  terms  of  their  ministry,  and  the 
nature  of  their  relations  to  Mr.  Brown,  are  not  definitely 
known.  It  is  certain  that  for  more  than  half  a  century 
they  had  no  meeting-house,  the  church  being  accustomed 
to  assemble  in  a  grove  or  orchard  for  public  worship,  and, 
when  the  weather  would  not  permit  this,  in  private  houses. 
In  those  primitive  times  the  ministers,  or  elders  as  they 
were  more  commonly  called,  doubtless  exercised  their  gifts 
after  the  manner  of  laymen  in  our  modern  conference 
meetings.  This  they  called  prophesying.  Mr.  Wickenden, 
who,  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  resided  at  a  place 
out  of  town  which  he  called  Solitary  Hill,  is  said  to  have 
been  ordained  by  Mr.  Brown.  Mr.  Dexter  was  formerly 
a  printer  in  London,  in  company  with  one  Coleman.  He 
came  to  Providence  in  the  year  1G43,  and  was  at  once  re 
ceived  into  the  church,  having  been  before  his  arrival  both 
a  Baptist  and  a  preacher.  He  was  not,  however,  according 
to  Edwards,  chosen  to  be  their  minister,  until  Mr.  Wick- 
enden's  removal  to  his  new  residence  rendered  this  step 
in  a  measure  necessary.  Mr.  Olncy,  according  to  Savage, 
came  from  Salem,  Mass.,  from  which  place  he  was  banished 
in  the  year  1G38.  He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of 
the  church,  having  been  baptized  by  Roger  Williams  at 
the  time  when  it  was  constituted. 


1760-1770.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  149 

During  Mr.  Brown's  ministry  there  appears  to  have 
originated  a  controversy,  which  was  long  agitated  in  the 
town,  and  throughout  the  colony.  It  had  reference  to  the 
"  laying  on  of  hands  "  mentioned  in  Hebrews  vi.  1,  2,  — 
a  doctrine  which  prevailed  in  the  Baptist  churches  for 
more  than  a  century.  The  principal  leaders  in  this  con 
troversy  were  Wickenden  and  Olney,  both  of  whom  fa 
vored  giving  up  the  doctrine  altogether.  Indeed,  the  latter, 
not  succeeding  in  carrying  his  point,  withdrew,  with  a  few 
others,  from  the  fellowship  of  the  church,  and  formed  a 
new  one  called  the  "  Five-principle  Baptist."  This  last, 
says  Callender,  continued  till  about  the  year  1718,  when, 
becoming  destitute  of  an  elder,  the  members  were  united 
with  other  churches.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  Wick- 
enden's  removal  from  town  was  owing,  in  part,  to  the  un 
pleasant  relations  growing  out  of  this  controversy. 

Unmoved  by  the  arguments  of  "  Seekers  "  or  "  Sepa 
ratists,"  Mr.  Brown  maintained  his  standing  firmly  in  a 
church  which  he  believed  to  be  founded  on  the  rock  of 
eternal  truth,  even  "the  word  of  God,  which  abideth  for 
ever."  The  duties  of  his  high  calling  he  continued  to  dis 
charge,  with  greater  or  less  regularity,  until  his  decease, 
which  occurred  about  the  year  1GG5.  His  death  was 
regarded  by  the  colonists  as  a  public  calamity ;  for  he  had 
been  the  successful  arbitrator  of  many  differences,  and  had 
won  the  not  unenviable  reputation  of  being  a  "  peace 
maker."  His  other  services,  too,  for  the  public  good,  had 
been  numerous,  and  scattered  over  more  than  a  quarter 
of  a  century.  His  remains  were  interred  in  a  part  of  his 
original  "  home-lot,"  lying  on  College  Street,  just  west  of 
the  old  town  house,  whence,  in  1792,  they  were  removed 
to  the  family  lot  in  the  North  Burying-ground.  A  plain, 
13* 


150  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 

simple  stone,  erected  by  the  town  of  Providence  to  his 
memory,  indicates  his  final  resting-place. 

Mr.  Brown  left  five  sons ;  namely,  John,  who  married  a 
Holmes;  Judah,  alias  Chad,  who  died  childless;  James, 
who  removed  to  Newport,  about  the  year  1672 ;  Jeremiah, 
who  also  settled  in  Newport ;  and  Daniel,  who  married  a 
Herenden. 

"  We  may  easily  suppose/'  says  Prof.  Knowles,  "  that  as  Mr.  Wil- 
liams's  connection  with  the  church  was  very  short,  Mr.  Brown  was  con 
sidered  as  the  first  pastor,  even  by  his  contemporaries,  and  that  this 
impression  was  transmitted  to  their  descendants.  It  was  not  unnatural, 
moreover,  for  the  church  to  be  willing  to  recognize  Mr.  Brown  as  the 
first  pastor,  rather  than  a  man  who  soon  left  them,  and  who  refused  to 
acknowledge  them,  or  any  other  body  of  men,  to  be  a  true  church.  It  is 
possible  that  other  causes  had  some  influence  in  the  case.  It  is  certain, 
however,  that  Mr.  Brown  has  been  generally  believed  to  have  been  the 
first  pastor  of  the  church.  He  was,  unquestionably,  the  first  regular  and 
permanent  pastor,  and  may  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  chief  founders.  It 
is  not  probable  that  he  contended  for  the  honor  while  he  lived  ;  and  we 
may  be  sure  that  there  was  no  strife  on  this  point  between  him  and 
Roger  Williams,  who  speaks  of  him  in  one  of  his  letters  as  '  that  noble 
spirit  now  with  God/  and,  on  another  occasion,  as  '  that  holy  man.'  " 

In  a  letter  to  Prof.  Knowles,  by  the  late  John  Howland, 
Esq.,  the  author  says :  — 

"  The  college  was  built  in  1770.  On  the  question  among  the  founders 
of  it,  on  what  lot  to  place  the  building,  they  decided  on  the  present  site  of 
the  old  college,  because  it  was  the  home-lot  of  Chad  Brown,  the  first  min 
ister  of  the  Baptist  church.  Other  land  could  have  been  obtained,  but  the 
reason  given  prevailed  in  fixing  the  site.  Had  the  impression  been  prev 
alent  that  Roger  Williams  was  the  first  minister  or  principal  founder  of 
the  society,  his  home-lot  could  have  been  purchased,  which  was  a  situation 
fully  as  eligible  for  the  purpose.  If  any  doubts  rested  in  the  minds  of  the 
gentlemen  at  that  time  as  to  the  validity  of  the  claim  of  Chad  Brown  to 
this  preference,  perhaps  the  circumstance  of  Mr.  Williams  deserting  the 
order,  and  protesting  against  it,  might  have  produced  the  determination 
in  favor  of  Brown." 


1769-1770. 


BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  151 


II.     JOHN  BROWN. 


John,  the  eldest  son  of  Chad,  was  born  in  England,  in 
the  year  1G30,  being  eight  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his 
arrival  in  Boston.  His  mother's  name  was  Elizabeth  ;  but 
her  maiden  name  we  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain.  He 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Obadiah  Holmes,  of 
Newport.  Mr.  Holmes  was  the  successor  of  the  Rev.  John 
Clark,  M.  D.,  the  distinguished  founder  of  Newport  Col 
ony.  He  was  a  native  of  England,  and  was  educated,  says 
Ross,  at  Oxford  University.  Formerly  he  was  settled  in 
Rehoboth,  Mass.  He  is  noted  in  history  as  the  first  martyr 
to  Baptist  principles  in  New  England,  having  been  appre 
hended  in  Massachusetts,  in  company  with  John  Clark,  and 
cruelly  whipped  "  for  conscience  sake."  Concerning  Mr. 
Brown's  life,  but  few  memorials  have  come  down  to  us. 
He  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  influence  in  the  colony, 
and  to  have  inherited  in  a  measure  the  character  and  spirit 
of  his  father.  We  first  find  his  name  on  record  in  a  docu 
ment  dated  Jan.  19,  1646,  which  reads  as  follows  :  — 

"  We,  whose  names  are  hereafter  subscribed,  having  obtained  a  free 
grant  of  twenty-five  acres  of  land,  apiece,  with  the  right  of  commoning 
accordino-  to  the  said  proportion  of  lands,  from  the  free  inhabitants  of  this 
town  of  Providence,  do  thankfully  accept  of  the  same ;  and  do  hereby 
promise  to  yield  active  or  passive  obedience  to  the  authority  of  (King  and 
Parliament)  established  in  this  colony,  according  to  our  charter,  and  to  all 
such  wholesome  laws  and  orders,  that  are  or  shall  be  made  by  the  major 
consent  of  the  town  of  Providence,  as  also,  not  to  claim  any  right  to  the 
purchase  of  the  said  plantations,  nor  any  privilege  of  vote  in  town  affairs, 
until  we  shall  be  received  as  freemen  of  the  said  town  of  Providence." 

This  document  has  the  signature  of  John  Brown,  fol 
lowed  by  twenty-seven  other  signatures,  including  that 
of  his  brother  Daniel.  A  few  years  after  this  transaction, 


152  MANNING    AND 


CHAP.  III. 


commenced  the  most  trying  period  in  the  early  history  of 
Rhode  Island.  In  consequence  of  the  ambition  of  Gov. 
Coddington,  the  local  jealousies  of  the  towns,  and  there- 
fractory  disposition  of  individuals,  a  spirit  of  disunion  and 
misrule  sprang  up,  which  continued  several  years,  and  had 
well-nigh  proved  fatal  to  the  peace  of  the  colony.  A  happy 
settlement  of  all  difficulties  was  at  length  effected  by  a  full 
court  of  commissioners,  six  from  each  town,  which  assem 
bled  at  Warwick  on  the  31st  of  August,  1654.  One  of  the 
commissioners  from  Providence  was  John  Brown,  who 
was  then  twenty-four  years  of  age.  In  the  year  1662  he 
was  appointed,  with  Roger  Williams  and  Thomas  Harris, 
Jr.,  to  make  up  the  town  council.  Mr.  Backus,  in  his 
Church  History,  further  adds  that  he  was  a  minister  in  the 
church.  These  records,  scanty  as  they  are,  give  all  the 
information  that  can  be  obtained  respecting  his  character 
and  life.  At  what  time  he  died  is  not  known.  In  the 
year  1667,  we  find  his  name  as  a  witness  to  the  signa 
ture  of  Roger  Williams  to  the  "  initial  deed,"  so  called, 
which  Williams  originally  granted  on  the  8th  of  October, 
1638.  He  left  five  children  ;  namely,  John,  born  March  18, 
1662  ;  James,  Obadiah,  Martha,  and  Deborah.  Martha  was 
married  to  Gov.  Joseph  Jcnckcs,  "  of  happy  memory,"  who 
was  therefore  the  brother-in-law  of  Elder  James  Brown, 
and  not  a  son-in-law,  as  erroneously  stated  by  Dr.  Benedict 
in  his  History  of  the  Baptists. 

III.      JAMES    BROWN. 

James,  the  second  son  of  John,  was  born  in  Providence, 
in  the  year  1666.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Andrew, 
and  grand-daughter  of  William  Harris,  one  of  the  first  five 
who  came  to  Providence  in  June,  1636,  in  company  with 
Roger  Williams.  Of  him  but  little  is  known,  save  as 


1769-1770. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  153 


pastor  or  elder  of  the  Baptist  church.     He  was  a  colleague 
of  the  Eev.  Pardon  Tillinghast,  and  his  successor  in  the 
pastoral  office ;  but  the  time  of  his  ordination  does  not  ap 
pear  on  record.    Associated  with  him  in  this  work  was  the 
Rev.  Ebenezer  Jenckes,  who  was  ordained  in  1719,  soon 
after  Mr.  Tillinghast's  death.     During  Mr.  Brown's  minis 
try,  an  event  occurred  which  exhibits  his  character  in  a 
pleasing  light.     It  was  in  relation  to  the  doctrine  of  the 
imposition  of  hands,  about  which,  in  former  years,  there 
had  been  so  much  controversy,  and  which,  during  the  min 
istry  of  his   grandfather,  Chad  Brown,  had  divided  and 
nearly  rent  asunder  the  church.     It  seems  that  a  revival 
of  religion  was  in  progress  at  Newport,  and  Mr.  Walton, 
a  young  minister  of  liberal  education,  had  been  invited  to 
preach  in  Providence,  with  the   hope  of  promoting  one 
here  also.     He  accepted  the  invitation,  at  the  same  time 
freely  expressing  his  willingness  to  practise  the  laying  on 
of  hands,  but  not  as  a  divine  ordinance,  necessary  to  church 
fellowship.     Mr.  Windsor,  then  a  deacon  of  the  church, 
was  the  leader  of  a  party   that  urged  the  imposition  of 
hands   as  a  term   or  prerequisite  of  church  communion. 
Gov.  Jenckes,  who  was  the  leading  member  of  the  church, 
was  then  residing  at  Newport.     He  wrote  to  his  pastor, 
Mr.  Brown,  on  the  subject,  confirming  Mr.  Walton's  view, 
that  laying  on  of  hands  "should  be  no  bar  to  communion 
with  those  who  have  been  rightly  baptized  ;  "  and  saying 
that  he  had  been  informed   by  ancient  members  of  the 
church  that  such  had  been  the  opinion  of  Baptists  through 
out  the  colony  from  the  earliest  times.     This  interesting 
letter  of  Gov.  Jenckes,  which  is  dated  March  19,  1730,  is 
published  in  the  second  volume  of  Backus's  Church  History 
of  New  England.     Mr.  Brown   perfectly  accorded   with 
these  views;  for  although  himself  a  "Six-principle  Bap- 


M  A  X  X  I  X  G    A  X  D  CHAP.  HI. 

list,"  holding  and  allowing  with  many  of  his  brethren 
"the  six  principles  in  Heb.  vi.  1,  2,  to  be  the  doctrine  of 
Christ  and  the  bounds  of  church  communion,"  he  never 
theless  strongly  remonstrated  with  Mr.  Windsor  and  his 
friends  against  this  rigid  innovation.  So  far  as  the  case 
admitted,  he  thus  evinced  a  liberal  and  catholic  spirit, 
eminently  befitting  a  Christian  teacher.  The  result  was 
the  following  agreement,  or  compromise,  which  we  here 
present,  as  an  illustration  of  Mr.  Brown's  views  and  of  the 
spirit  of  the  times  :  — 

May  25th,  1732.  Whereas  there  was  a  meeting  appointed  by  some 
of  the  Baptist  church  of  Providence,  this  present  day,  at  Elder  James 
Brown's,  the  few  of  us  that  have  met  together  to  reconcile  this  woful 
breach  or  division  that  has  happened  of  late  about  the  bounds  of  our 
communion,  we  think  it  needful  to  bear  each  others'  burdens,  and  so  fulfil 
the  law  of  Christ.  The  difference  between  us  is  this,  that  some  of  us  have 
borne  with  larger  communion  than  others.  "We  shall  endeavor,  by  the 
help  of  God,  not  to  offend  our  brethren  in  this  thing,  nor  any  thing 
whereby  it  shall  offend  their  consciences,  but  shall  endeavor  to  be  a  build 
ing  up  of  peace  and  tranquillity  within  the  spiritual  walls  of  Jerusalem. 
We.  do  all  further  agree,  that  there  be  no  contradictions,  but  that  we  may 
all  speak  the  same  things  ;  for  as  we  all  agree  and  allow  the  six  principles 
in  Ileb.  vi.  1 ,  2,  to  be  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  and  to  be  the  bonds  of  our 
communion,  so  we  ought  to  be  of  one  body,  and  not  tearing  one  another 
to  pieces.  We  further  agree,  that  if  any  brother  or  sister  shall  join  in 
prayer  without  the  bounds  of  the  church,  they  are  liable  to  be  dealt  witli 
by  the  church  for  their  offending  their  brethren. 

SAMUEL  FISK,  EDWARD  WANTON, 

JOSHUA  WINDSOR,  JAMES  BROWN, 

ELDER  PLACE,  SAMUEL  WINDSOR, 

THOMAS  BURLINGAME,  JR.,  THOMAS  OLNEY, 

.TAMES  KING,  JAMES  BROWN,  JR., 

JOHN  DEXTER,  JOSEPH  SHELDON, 

JOHN  DEXTER,  JR.,  EBENEZER  JENCKES, 

JONATHAN  JENCKES,  ELISHA  GREENE, 

NICHOLAS  SHELDON,  DANIEL  SHELDON, 

BENJAMIN  CARPENTER,  JOSEPH-  WILLIAMS,  JR., 

EDWARD  FENNER,  DANIEL  SWEET, 

EDWARD  MITCHEL,  DANIEL  FISK. 


1709-1770.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  155 

Mr.  Brown  died  on  the  28th  of  October,  1732,  in  the 
sixty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  He  was,  says  Edwards,  "  an 
example  of  piety  and  meekness  worthy  of  admiration."  He 
had  ten  children ;  namely,  John,  James,  Joseph  Martha, 
Andrew,  Mary,  Obadiah,  Jeremiah,  Elisha,  and  Anna. 
John  died  in  1716,  childless.  The  rest  married  into  the 
Power,  Field,  Green,  Knowlton,  Harris,  Comstock,  Rhodes, 
Smith,  and  Barker  families. 


IV.      JAMES   BROWN. 

James,  the  second  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  March 
22,  1G98.  Very  few  memorials  of  his  early  life  and  sub 
sequent  career  have  been  preserved.  He  engaged  in 
active  business,  and  became  a  successful  merchant  of 
Providence,  thus  laying  the  foundations  of  the  wealth  and 
prosperity  of  his  descendants.  During  the  year  1723  he 
married  Hope,  daughter  of  Col.  Nicholas  Power,  and 
grand-daughter  of  the  Rev.  Pardon  Tillinghast,  one  of 
the  early  pastors  of  the  Baptist  church.  Mr.  Tillinghast 
•  who  came  over  from  England  in  1G45,  is  said  to  have 
been  a  soldier  under  Cromwell.  He  built,  at  his  own  ex 
pense,  the  first  meeting-house  ever  occupied  by  the  church ; 
a  deed  of  which,  and  of  the  lot  on  which  it  stood,  he  exe 
cuted  to  them  and  their  successors  in  the  year  1711.  With 
the  beloved  wife  of  his  choice  he  lived  most  happily  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  27th  of  April,  1739,  in 
the  forty-first  year  of  his  age.  She  survived  him  many 
years,  dying  June  8th,  1792,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety. 
Both  she  and  her  husband  were  worthy  members  of  the 
church,  and  patterns  of  exemplary  piety.  She  was  re 
markably  amiable  in  her  temper,  and  brought  up  her  boys 
well ;  a  proof,  says  one,  of  strength  of  character  and  mind, 


156  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  TIL 

which  few  widowed  mothers  possess.  They  had  five  sons, 
and  a  daughter  Mary.  James,  the  eldest  son,  became  mas 
ter  of  a  vessel.  He  died  at  York,  Va.,  on  the  15th  of  Feb 
ruary,  1750,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six.  The  daughter  was 
married  to  Dr.  David  Vanderlight,  a  German,  who  prac 
tised  medicine  in  Providence  until  his  death,  which  oc 
curred  on  the  14th  of  February,  1755,  while  in  his  thirtieth 
year.  She  survived  him  long,  dying  on  the  6th  of  May, 
1795.  The  remaining  sons,  Nicholas,  Joseph,  John,  and 
Moses,  familiarly  known  in  Providence  annals  as  the  "  Four 
Brothers,"  will  form  subjects  for  more  extended  sketches. 

V.1    NICHOLAS   BROWN. 

Nicholas,  the  oldest  of  the  "  Four  Brothers,"  was  born  in 
Providence,  on  the  28th  of  July,  1729.  At  the  age  often  he 
was  deprived  of  a  father's  care,  and  in  a  measure  thrown 
upon  himself,  as  the  senior  representative  of  the  family. 
To  the  good  counsels  and  judicious  training  of  his  excel 
lent  mother,  for  whom  he  ever  cherished  a  profound  re 
gard,  he  was,  doubtless,  indebted  for  many  of  those  traits 
of  character  which  rendered  his  life  illustrious.  At  an 
early  age  he  gave  proofs  of  the  singular  goodness  of  his 
heart  and  of  the  benevolence  of  his  disposition.  Upon 
coming  to  man's  estate,  immediately  after  the  death  of  his 
brother  James,  he  could,  as  the  eldest  son,  have  inherited 
a  double  portion  of  his  father's  property,  in  accordance 
with  existing  colonial  laws.  Setting  aside,  however,  all 
legal  rights,- and  following  only  his  generous  impulses,  he 
promptly  divided  with  his  brothers  and  his  sister  Mary  so 
much  of  the  paternal  estate  as  fell  to  their  lot.  So  auspi 
cious  a  beginning  of  his  career  in  life  could  hardly  fail  of  a 
happy  and  successful  termination.  He  at  once  engaged  in 


1769-1770.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  loV 

mercantile  business,  and  thereby  acquired  a  very  ample 
fortune.  His  success  in  trade  was  truly  remarkable ;  but 
not  more  so  than  were  his  diligence  and  punctuality, — 
traits  of  character  for  which  his  descendants  have  ever 
been  distinguished. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  1762,  at  the  age  of  thirty-three,  he 
married  Rhoda  Jenckes,  fifth  daughter  of  Judge  Daniel 
Jen  ekes,  whose  name  appears  prominent  in  the  history  of 
the  college  charter.  Her  mother  was  Joanna  Scott,  a  de 
scendant  of  Richard  Scott,  one  of  the  original  proprietors 
of  the  colony,  and  an  early  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 
This  union  proved  a  source  of  great  domestic  felicity. 
They  were  blest  with  a  numerous  offspring;  but  of  ten 
children,  only  two  survived  them  ;  namely,  Hon.  Nich 
olas  Brown,  from  whom  the  University  derives  its  name, 
and  the  late  Mrs.  Hope  Ives,  wife  of  Thomas  Poynton 
Ives,  Esq.  After  more  than  twenty-one  years  of  happy 
married  life,  this  most  excellent  lady,  whose  special  de 
light  it  was  to  aid  her  husband  in  his  deeds  of  charity, 
and  to  cheer  the  gloomy  mansions  of  poverty  and  pain, 
was  taken  from  him.  She  died  on  the  16th  of  December, 
1783,  in  the  full  assurance  of  a  blessed  immortality.  Dur 
ing  all  her  sickness  she  manifested  a  pious  resignation  to 
the  divine  will.  For  many  days  previous  to  her  death  she 
had  expressed  a  desire  to  "  depart  and  be  with  Christ ; " 
and  in  this  delightful  frame  of  mind  she  continued,  pa 
tiently  waiting  the  summons  for  her  to  "  come  up  higher." 

On  the  9th  of  September,  1785,  Mr.  Brown  married  for 
his  second  wife,  Avis,  daughter  of  Capt.  Barnabas  Binney, 
of  Boston.  She  was  a  woman  of  superior  worth,  and  was 
well  versed  in  books  and  useful  learning.  Happy  in  her 
society,  and  in  the  esteem  and  good-will  of  his  fellow-men, 
his  remaining  years  glided  peacefully  on  until  his  death, 
14 


MANNING    AXD  CHAP.  III. 

which  occurred  on  the  29th  of  May,  1791,  in  the  sixty- 
third  year  of  his  age.  On  the  morning  of  this  day,  which 
was  the  Sabbath,  he  rode  out,  and  on  his  return  break 
fasted  with  his  family  as  usual.  After  sending  his  son  and 
daughter  to  church,  and  declaring  his  intention,  weak  as 
he  was,  to  go  himself  to  the  house  of  God,  he  was  taken 
worse,  and  in  a  few  hours,  by  an  easy  death,  gently  trans 
lated  from  this  state  of  change  and  trial  to  the  pure  and 
blissful  worship  of  the  church  above.  On  Tuesday  follow 
ing,  his  remains  were  carried  to  the  Baptist  meeting-house, 
where  a  most  eloquent  and  impressive  funeral  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stillman,  who  for  many  years 
had  been  his  intimate  friend. 

From  this  sermon,  which  was  afterwards  published,  we 
make  the  following  extract,  as  an  illustration  of  the  man 
ner  in  which  he  was  esteemed  by  those  who  had  known 
him  long  and  well :  — 

"  Perhaps  there  is  nothing  more  difficult  than  to  give  characters  :  we 
say  too  much  for  some,  and  too  little  for  others ;  but  in  this  instance  the 
deceased  was  too  well  known,  and  his  character  too  long  established,  to 
need  any  commendation  from  me.  Yet  I  wish  to  gratify  my  present  feel 
ings,  by  saying  that  for  twenty  years  I  have  enjoyed  an  intimate  and 
pleasing  acquaintance  with  him,  and  knew  him  well.  He  was  the  affec 
tionate  husband,  the  tender  father,  the  compassionate  master,  the  dutiful 
son,  the  loving  brother,  and  the  steady,  faithful  friend.  He  took  much  pains, 
by  reading  and  by  conversation,  to  inform  his  mind,  and  had  acquired 
general  knowledge.  But  religion  was  his  favorite  subject.  To  Chris 
tianity  in  genera],  as  founded  on  a  fulness  of  evidence,  and  to  its  peculiar 
doctrines,  lie  was  firmly  attached.  And  from  his  uniform  temper,  his 
love  to  the  gospel  and  to  pious  men,  together  with  his  many  and  gen 
erous  exertions  to  promote  the  cause  of  Christ,  we  may  safely  conclude 
that  he  had  tasted  that  the  Lord  is  gracious.  Therefore  we  sorrow  not 
as  they  who  have  no  hope.  He  was  a  Baptist  from  principle,  and  a  lover 
of  good  men  of  all  denominations.  Blessed  with  opulence,  he  was  ready 
to  distribute  to  public  and  to  private  uses.  In  his  death,  the  college  in 


1769-1770.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


159 


this  place,  this  church  and  society,  the  town  of  Providence,  and  the  gen 
eral  interests  of  religion,  learning,  and  liberality  have  lost  a  friend  indeed." 

Mr.  Brown,  it  is  somewhat  remarkable,  never  made  a 
public  profession  of  that  religion  which,  from  the  tenor  of 
his  e very-day  life,  was  seen  to  be  the  animating  motive  of 
his  conduct,  and  the  source  of  his  highest  joys.  He  ap 
pears  to  have  been  distrustful  of  himself,  and  to  have 
shrunk  from  a  public  avowal  of  his  faith,  from  a  too  great 
timidity,  perhaps,  and  a  painful  consciousness  of  imperfec 
tions  and  short-comings,  which  are  but  the  common  heri 
tage  of  our  fallen  natures.  Perhaps,  too,  his  awful  reverence 
for  Deity  prevented  his  taking  upon  himself  the  solemn 
vows  involved  in  church  covenant  and  membership.  This 
reverence  impressed  every  one  who  heard  him  speak,  or 
saw  him  wrrite  the  sacred  name.  It  was  his  custom  to  write 
it  in  capitals,  and  he  often  desired  others  to  do  the  same. 

The  following  letter,  addressed  to  his  intimate  friend, 
the  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith,  of  Haverhill,  Mass.,  affords  a 
happy  illustration  of  his  views  and  feelings  in  regard  to 
his  religious  state.  It  is  interesting  also  from  its  allusions 
to  the  college  :  — 

PROVIDENCE,  March  30,  1772. 
REVEREND  SIR  : 

This  may  serve  to  acquaint  you  and  Mrs.  Smith  that  we  have  not  for 
gotten  you.  We  have  received  none  of  your  favors  since  28th  September, 
by  Mr.  Manning ;  yet  we  have  no  excuse  for  not  writing  to  you  before, 
except  that  of  not  having  any  particulars  worthy  your  notice.  Mr.  Bin- 
ney,1  a  worthy,  humble,  and  meek  young  Christian,  having  been  the 
evening  with  us,  1  engaged  to  forward  these  to  you  from  Boston,  as  he 
is  now  going  home  the  ensuing  vacation.  His  conversation  upon  Chris 
tianity  is  really  entertaining,  and  we  sincerely  wish,  while  we  can  say 
that  we  take  knowledge  of  him  that  he  has  "been  with  Jesus,"  that 

1  Barnabas  Binney,  who  graduated  in  1774. 


ICO  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 

the  same  might  be  said  of  ourselves.  This  knowledge  we  are  still  waiting 
for.  I  hope,  in  the  day  of  God's  power,  it  will  be  made  manifest  in  us ; 
and  I  take  this  opportunity  of  requesting  your  fervent  prayers  that  God 
would  remove  from  us  the  veil  of  ignorance  and  unbelief,  and  that  Christ 
in  his  fulness  may  be  savingly  applied  to  our  souls  through  faith,  which 
we  believe  to  be  the  gift  of  God,  as  saith  the  Scriptures.  It  is  a  very  dull 
time  in  religion  here,  though  we  have  to  rejoice  that  God  has  not  left  him 
self  wholly  without  a  witness.  We  are  informed  that  in  Swanzey,  among 
the  Baptists  in  Messrs.  Mason's  and  Martin's  societies,  upwards  of  forty 
have  been  baptized  since  January  came  in.  Some  additions  have  been 
made  to  the  Baptist  churches  in  Newport.  We  have  heard  from  Phila 
delphia  that  Rogers  was  much  liked  there,  and  that  his  preaching  has 
been  blessed.  Mr.  Edwards  has  gone  to  Carolina.  I  hope  he  may  be 
able  to  promote  the  collection  of  your  subscriptions  got  there,  as  they  are 
much  needed.  There  is  nothing  new  here  about  the  college.  The  lower 
rooms  have  been  finished,  so  that  the  scholars  have  lived  in  them  this 
winter.  The  enemies  to  the  institution  are  doing  what  mischief  they  can, 
by  discouraging  scholars  from  coming  here  ;  which  fact  ought  to  stir  up 
every  friend  to  exert  himself  to  the  utmost.  Should  be  glad  to'  hear  of 
some  boys  coming  here  from  your  quarter.  Mr.  President  is  well,  but  his 
wife  is  poorly,  with  her  old  complaints.  Pray  let  us  hear  of  your  welfare 
by  every  opportunity. 

Your  most  respectful  and  obedient  servant, 

NICHOLAS  BKOWN. 

In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Smith,  written  fifteen  years  after 
wards,  Mr.  Brown  further  remarks :  "  I  am  as  rationally 
convinced  of  the  reality  of  religion  as  ever,  and  wish  to 
live  with  a  more  lively  sense  of  it  in  my  own  soul.  I 
know  there  is  a  great  work  of  duty  to  be  attended  to, 
without  which  we  have  no  promise.  And  I  feel  assured 
that  this  line  of  duty,  however  straight  and  plain,  we 
shall  not  pursue,  without  the  supernatural  aids  of  that 
Spirit  of  love" 

To  this  sketch  we  append  the  following  remarkable  epi 
taph,  written  by  the  Hon.  David  Howell,  and  placed  upon 
the  monument  erected  by  his  widow  and  surviving  chil- 


1769-1770.  BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  161 

dren.  It  is  a  fitting  and  eloquent  tribute  to  his  memory, 
and  presents  in  brief  a  comprehensive  view  of  his  entire 
life:- 

IN   MEMORY    OF 

IpkljolHS    grofcm,   (Ssjq., 
WHO  DIED  MAT  29,  A.  D.  1791,  ^ET.  62. 

He  descended  from  respectable  ancestors, 

Who  were  some  of  the  first  settlers  in  this  State. 

His  stature  was  large,  his  personal  appearance 

Manly  and  noble, 

His  genius  penetrating,  his  memory  tenacious, 

His  judgment  strong,  his  affections  lively  and  warm. 

He  was  an  early,  persevering,  and  liberal  patron 

Of  the  College  in  this  town, 

And  a  member  and  great  benefactor  of  the  Baptist  Society. 
His  donations  in  support  of  learning  and  religion 

Were  generous  and  abundant. 

His  occupation  was  merchandise ; 

In  which,  by  industry,  punctuality,  and  success, 

He  accumulated  a  large  fortune. 

He  was  plain  and  sincere  in  his  manners,  a  faithful 

Friend,  a  good  neighbor,  and  an  entertaining  companion. 

His  knowledge 

Of  books,  of  men,  of  business,  and  of  the  world 
Was  great,  and  of  the  most  useful  kind. 

He  loved  his  country, 

And  had  an  equal  esteem  of  liberty  and  good  government. 
He  had  deeply  studied  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  was  convinced 

Of  the  great  truths  of  revelation. 
He  was  a  religious  observer  of  the  Sabbath, 

And  of  public  worship, 

And  trained  up  his  household  after  him. 

He  was  a  lover  of  all  men,  especially  of  good  men, 

The  ministers  and  disciples  of  Christ, 

Who  always  received  a  friendly  welcome  under  his  hospitable  roof. 

As  in  life  he  was  universally  esteemed, 

So  in  death  he  was  universally  lamented. 

The  conjugal  affection  of  a  mourning  widow, 

And  filial  piety  of  an  orphan  son  and  daughter, 

HAVE   ERECTED   THIS   MONUMENT. 
14* 


162  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 


Joseph,  the  second  of  the  "  Four  Brothers,"  was  born 
Dec.  3d,  1733.  At  an  early  age  he  gave  proofs  of  a  supe 
rior  genius.  He  engaged  in  merchandise  and  in  the  man 
ufacturing  business  ;  and  by  his  industry  and  skill  acquired, 
if  not  affluence,  at  least  a  competency,  which  enabled  him 
to  indulge  his  natural  taste  for  science.  The  first  display 
of  his  philosophical  abilities  was  in  electricity,  in  which  he 
became  an  adept.  At  his  death  he  left  an  electrical  ap 
paratus  of  his  own  construction,  equal,  it  is  said,  if  not  su 
perior,  to  any  then  existing  in  the  country.  His  researches, 
too,  in  other  branches  of  science,  particularly  in  astronomy, 
attracted  the  notice  of  the  literati.  But  his  favorite  study 
was  mechanics.  The  want  of  an  early  education  was  an  ob 
stacle  in  the  way  of  his  literary  career,  but  the  efforts  of  his 
genius  in  surmounting  it  excited  the  greatest  admiration. 
In  testimony  of  his  merits,  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts  was  conferred  on  him,  and  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences. 

He  was  a  warm  friend  of  the  college,  of  which  he  was  a 
Trustee  from  the  year  1769  until  his  death ;  and  in  all  that 
pertained  to  its  prosperity  and  growth  he  was  thoroughly 
identified.  In  1784  he  was  made  a  Professor  of  Natural 
Philosophy  ;  and  in  consideration  of  the  impoverished  con 
dition  of  the  college,  resulting  from  the  war,  he  generously 
gave  his  valuable  services  to  the  institution  without  com 
pensation.  He  was  thus  the  second  professor  (aside  from 
the  President)  ever  appointed  by  the  corporation ;  the 
Hon.  David  Howell  being  the  first.  He  was  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  being  the  only  one  of  the 
brothers  who  ever  made  a  public  profession  of  religion. 
The  meeting-house  of  this  venerable  society,  which  for 


1769-1770.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 

nearly  a  century  has  adorned  the  place,  still  stands,  a  con 
spicuous  monument  of  his  skill  as  an  architect.  In  the 
year  1775,  we  find  that  he  was  appointed  by  the  General 
Assembly,  in  company  with  the  Hon.  Esek  Hopkins  to 
co  through  the  colony  and  decide  what  places  should 
fortified,  and  in  what  manner.  This  shows  the  estimate 
which  the  public  put  upon  his  judgment  and  abilities  as  a 

man  of  science. 

He  died  on  the  3d  of  December,  1785,  at  the  age  off 
one.     His  funeral  was  attended  by  a  numerous  train  of 
mourning  relatives  and  friends,  and  a  discourse  suitable  to 
the  occasion  was  delivered  by  his  pastor,  Dr.  Manning.  ^ 

The  following,  which  we  copy  from  his  tombstone,  is  a 
brief  summary  of  his  character  and  virtues  :  — 

IN   MEIIORY    OF 

f  on.  Jjottrt  $™fotx,  <^-> 

WHO   DEPARTED   THIS   LIFE   DEC.    3D,    1785, 
IN   THE    52D    YEAR    OF    HIS   AGE. 

In  the  course  of  his  life 

He  was  a  Representative  for  the  Town  of  Providence, 
An  Assistant  of  the  Governor  in  Council, 

A  Trustee  of  Rhode  Island  College, 

A  Professor  of  Experimental  Philosophy  therein, 

A  Member  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences, 

And  of  the  Baptist  Church,  etc. 

He  became  an  adept  in  Electricity, 

And  well  versed  in  Experimental  Philosophy. 

But  his  great  strength  appeared  in  his 

Favorite  study  of  Mechanics. 
He  was  a  Patriot  from  principle, 

And  zealous  for  his  country's  freedom  and  independence. 

In  his  life  were  exemplified  charity  and  munificence, 

Preeminently,  with  other  virtues  of  an 

Honest  man. 

Erected  by  his  disconsolate  widow 
And  four  children. 


>  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 

Mr.  Brown    married   Elizabeth,  daughter   of  Nicholas 
Power,  Esq.     In  1774  he  erected  for  his  residence  the  ele 
gant  house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  the  Providence 
Bank.     Here,  in  happiness  and  peace,  he  spent  the  closing 
years  of  his  life.     Of  his  children,  Mary,  the  oldest,  was 
married,  in  1799,  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gano,  who  for  nearly  forty 
years  was  the  esteemed  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church. 
She  died  the  following  year,  Dec.    8th,   in  the  forty-first 
year  of  her  age.     A  funeral  sermon  on  the  occasion  of  her 
decease  was  preached  by  President  Maxcy,  which  sermon 
was  afterwards  published.     She    appears  to  have  been  a 
woman  of  great  worth,  possessing  many  and  rare  accom 
plishments.  Obadiah,  who  was  never  married,  died  Feb.  14, 
1815,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three.     Eliza,  the  third  child,  mar 
ried  Richard  Ward,  a  merchant  of  New  York,  son  of  Gov. 
Samuel  Ward,  of  Rhode  Island.    She  died  in  1845,  without 
issue.    Joseph,  the  youngest,  died  in  1791,  at  the  age'of  six 
teen.     The  only  living  representative  of  the  family  is  Mrs. 
Eliza  B.  Rogers,  wife  of  Joseph  Rogers,  and  only  daughter 
of  Dr.  Gano,  by  his  wife  Mary.    At  her  death,  therefore,  she 
having  no  children,  this  branch  of  the  Brown  family  be 
comes   extinct.     Mrs.  Rogers  has  recently  given  to  the 
University  a  scholarship,  to  be  called  the  Joseph  Brown 
Scholarship,  in  honor  of  her  distinguished  grandfather. 

We  close  this  sketch  of  Mr.  Brown  with  the  following 
extract  from  a  pamphlet,  published  nearly  a  century  ago, 
entitled,  "An  Account  of  the  Observation  of  Venus  upon 
the  Sun,  the  third  day  of  June,  17G9,  at  Providence,  in 
New  England.  With  some  Account  of  the  Use  of  those 
Observations.  By  Benjamin  West.  Providence  :  Printed 
by  John  Carter,  at  Shakspear's  Head,  1769."  Mr.  West,  it 
may  be  added,  was  Professor  of  Mathematics,  Astronomy, 


1769-1770.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  1G5 

and  Natural  Philosophy  in  Rhode   Island  College,  from 
1786  to  1798. 

"  It  remains  now  to  give  an  account  of  the  preparations  that  were  made 
in  Providence  for  the  observation  of  this  transit ; 1  in  doing  of  which  I 
shall  be  as  particular  as  possible,  that  the  reader  may  the  better  judge  of 
the  merit  of  our  work. 

"  When  it  became  more  generally  known  that  there  would  be  a  transit 
of  Venus  in  1769,  and  the  advantages  that  were  like  to  accrue  to  as 
tronomy,  and  consequently  to  navigation  and  chronology,  from  proper 
observations  of  it,  Mr.  Joseph  Brown,2  a  very  respectable  merchant  of 
Providence,  being  very  desirous,  if  possible,  to  obtain  an  observation  of 
it,  was  pleased  to  advise  with  me  concerning  an  apparatus  suitable  for 
such  an  observation,  and  to  know  if  we  should  be  able  to  observe  the 
transit  with  the  necessary  precision  for  answering  the  important  design. 

"  As  the  proposal  was  new  and  unexpected,  my  answer  was  not  di 
rect,  as  it  required  some  time  to  consider  of  it.  At  length  I  gave  him 
my  opinion  concerning  an  apparatus  proper  for  such  an  occasion ;  and 
that  I  thought  we  could  observe  the  transit  with  that  accuracy  as  would 
render  it  worthy  of  notice,  provided  we  could  have  such  an  apparatus  as 
was  described.  My  answer  gave  him  so  much  satisfaction  in  the  matter, 
that  he  immediately  sent  his  orders  to  his  correspondent  in  London  to 
procure  the  instruments.  His  orders  were  accordingly  executed  with  fidel 
ity  and  dispatch.  They  arrived  in  Providence  about  one  month  before  the 


1  The  street  called  Transit  Street  was  named  in  commemoration  of  this  event. 
The  observations  were  taken  on  the  hill  where  the  street  is  laid  out. 

2  "  Mr.  Brown  is  a  gentleman  of  a  solid,  active  genius,  strongly  turned  to  the 
study  of  mechanics  and  natural  philosophy,  which  has  induced  him  to  construct 
and  furnish  himself  with  as  curious  and  complete  an  apparatus  for  electrical 
experiments  as  any,  perhaps,  in  America,  and  of  which  he  well  knows  the  use. 
Heading  Mr.  Winthrop's  account  of  the  transit  in  1761,  was  what  first  occasioned 
him  to  send  for  a  telescope,  fitted  in  the  manner  Mr.  Winthrop  there  describes. 
Afterwards,  taking  notice  of  the  application  of  the  American  Philosophical 
Society  to  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  for  an  apparatus  for  observing  the 
transit  of  Venus,  he  found  the  orders  he  had  sent  were  incomplete.    He  then  ad 
vised  with  the  author,  as  mentioned,  and  thereupon  ordered  a  micrometer  to  be 
added.    Mr.  Brown's  expense  in  this  laudable  undertaking  was  little  less  than 
£100  sterling,  besides  near  a  month's  time  of  himself  and  servants  in  making 
the  necessary  previous  experiments  and  preparations." 


>  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 

transit.  Our  apparatus  was  made  by  Messieurs  Watkins  and  Smith, 
London.  It  consisted  of  a  three-feet  reflecting  telescope,  with  horizontal 
and  vertical  wires  for  taking  differences  of  altitudes  and  azimuths,  ad 
justed  with  spirit-levels  at  right  angles,  and  a  divided  arch  for  taking  al 
titudes  ;  a  curious  helioscope,  together  with  a  micrometer  of  a  new  and 
elegant  construction,  with  rack  motions,  and  fitted  to  the  telescope.  Such 
a  noble  disposition  in  Mr.  Brown  for  promoting  useful  knowledge  cer 
tainly  merits  the  applause  of  the  public ;  and,  in  justice  to  him,  I  must 
acknowledge,  our  work  could  not  have  been  done  with  equal  accuracy 
had  it  not  been  for  his  skill  and  contrivance  therein." 


V."      JOHN   BROWN. 

John,  the  third  brother  in  age,  was  born  on  the  27th  of 
January,  1736.  He  was  the  most  active  and  energetic  of 
the  family  ;  and  in  developing  the  industry  and  extending 
the  commerce  of  the  town,  he  has  left  his  impress  upon 
the  entire  community,  in  a  degree  seldom  equalled.  He 
was  the  first  merchant  in  Rhode  Island,  it  is  said,  who 
carried  trade  to  China  and  the  East  Indies.  He  fostered 
the  interests  of  the  church  over  which  his  ancestors  had 
been  elders  or  ministers,  contributing  liberally  of  his  wealth 
for  the  support  of  preaching,  and  in  creating  a  permanent 
fund  for  the  society.  In  founding,  endowing,  and  sustain 
ing  the  college,  he  was  ever  prominent  and  active,  as  our 
pages  throughout  show.  Though  a  wealthy  merchant, 
and  having  larger  interests  at  stake  than  most  men,  he 
was  a  patriotic  leader  in  the  cause  of  the  American  Revo 
lution  ; l  and,  at  a  later  period,  when  his  native  State  stood 

1  In  reference  to  Mr.  Brown  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in  1775,  we  find 
the  following,  in  a  memoir  of  Elkanah  Watson,  published  in  the  April  number 
of  the  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register  for  1863.  Mr.  Watson 
was  an  apprentice  to  Mr.  Brown  at  this  period. 

"Mr.  Brown,  finding  the  army  desitute  of  every  munition  of  war,  particularly 
of  powder,  directed  the  captains  of  his  vessels,  on  their  return  voyages,  to  freight 


1709-1770. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  167 


aloof  from  the  Union,  and  refused  to  adopt  the  Federal 
Constitution,  he  was  distinguished  as  a  champion  of  the 
Federal  party ;  and  he  without  doubt  did  more  than  any 
other  man  towards  securing  the  final  adoption  of  the  Con 
stitution  by  the  people  of  Rhode  Island.  In  1784  he  was 
chosen  a  delegate  to  Congress,  in  place  of  Jonathan  Ar 
nold,  who  had  removed  to  Vermont.  While  here  he  was 
appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  for  erecting  the  Fed 
eral  buildings,  which  it  was  then  proposed  to  locate  on  the 
banks  of  the  Delaware.  At  the  spring  election  in  1785, 
he  was  again  returned  to  Congress  as  a  delegate,  and  in 
1799  he  was  elected  a  member,  serving  two  years.  This 
was  about  the  last  of  his  public  life.  He  died  on  the  20th 
of  September,  1803,  in  the  sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age. 

with  that  article;  and  when  the  array  at  Boston  had  not  four  rounds  to  a  man, 
most  fortunately  one  of  Mr.  Brown's  ships  brought  in  a  ton  and  a  half  of  pow 
der,  and  it  was  immediately  forwarded,  under  the  charge  of  young  Watson,  to 

Cambridge,  attended  by  six  or  eight  recruits  to  guard  it Soon  after  this 

war,  Brown,  having  contracted  to  supply  the  army  of  Washington  with  flour, 
sailed  for  Providence  with  a  cargo  from  Newport.  This  vessel  was  seized,  and 
Mr.  Brown  was  himself  made  prisoner,  and  sent  to  Boston  in  irons,  charged 
with  heading  a  party,  in  1772,  which  burned  his  Majesty's  schooner  Gaspee  in 
Providence  river. 

"  The  whole  community  were  indignant  and  exasperated  at  his  seizure.  A 
consultation  was  held  immediately,  and  it  was  decided  to  send  an  express  to 
Plymouth  in  order  to  lit  out  two  armed  schooners  to  intercept,  if  possible,  the 
captured  flour  vessel,  in  her  passage  round  Cape  Cod." 

Some  sixty  or  eighty  men  embarked  in  two  fishing  schooners,  equipped  with 
two  old  cannon  each ;  but  alter  cruising  about  Cape  Cod  for  ten  days,  they  re 
turned  without  success.  Mr.  Brown  was  soon  after  released,  through  the  inter 
position  of  his  brother  Moses  Brown.  (Mr.  Brown  was  taken  prisoner  Wednes 
day,  April  26, 1775,  and  released  the  following  week.) 

As  a  further  illustration  of  Mr.  Brown's  prominence  and  activity  in  the  war, 
it  may  be  stated  that  in  the  eighth  volume  (just  published)  of  Bartlett's  Colonial 
Records,  including  a  period  of  four  years  (1770-79),  his  name  appears,  in  connec 
tion  with  important  committees  and  various  public  services,  no  less  than  twenty- 
six  times.  No  other  name  has  such  frequent  mention  in  the  volume  to  which 
we  have  referred. 


168 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 


The  following  inscription  on  his  tombstone  describes 
briefly,  but  well,  his  character  and  worth :  — 

Underneath  this  stone 

Are  deposited  the  mortal 

Kemains  of 

|0!jtt   groixrit, 

The  enterprising  and  accomplished  Merchant, 

The  tried  Patriot  and  wise  Legislator, 
The  universal  Philanthropist  and  sincere  Christian. 

Born  January  27th,  1736. 
Died  September  20th,  1803. 

Wife,  SARAH,  daughter  of 

Daniel  Smith  and  Dorcas  his  wife. 

Born,  Providence,  May  13th,  1738. 

Married  November  27th,  1760. 

Died  February  27th,  1825. 

Mr.  Brown  has  been  happily  described  as  "  a  man  of 
magnificent  projects  and  of  extraordinary  enterprise." 
Whatever  he  did  was  in  accordance  with  his  enlarged 
views,  and  oftentimes  far  in  advance  of  the  age  in  which  he 
lived.  In  his  day  Main  Street  was  a  sandy  and  disagree 
able  walk.  He  first  caused  it  to  be  paved  ;  and  although 
at  that  time  he  had  twenty  sail  of  ships  abroad  upon  the 
sea,  he  might  be  seen  busily  engaged  upon  the  work  him 
self,  in  order  to  be  sure  that  it  was  properly  done.  "  Uni 
versity  Hall,"  of  which  he  laid  the  corner-stone,  and  in  the 
planning  and  construction  of  which  he  bore  so  prominent 
a  part,  is  even  now  one  of  the  finest  and  best  of  the  col 
lege  buildings.  No  other  man  would  have  had  the  resolu 
tion  and  courage  as  "  the  committee  man  "  to  carry  on  the 
building  of  the  Baptist  meeting-house,  at  a  time  when 
Providence  was  comparatively  a  small  town,  and  when 


1769-1770. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  1G9 


hostilities  between  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country 
seemed  about  to  begin.  His  own  stately  mansion,  built 
of  imported  brick  and  freestone,  after  English  models,  in 
the  year  1786,  was  long  noted  as  one  of  the  largest  and 
finest  private  residences  in  all  New  England.  It  was  at  his 
former  residence  on  South  Main  Street  that  he  gave,  in 
honor  of  Gen.  Nathauael  Green,  the  greatest  private  dinner, 
it  is  said,  that  had  ever  been  given  in  Rhode  Island.  His 
Commencement  dinners,  to  which  all  graduates  and  friends 
were  freely  invited,  at  a  period  when  public  dinners  were 
not  provided  by  the  college,  as  at  present,1  were  remem 
bered  with  pleasure  years  after  the  hospitable  entertainer 
had  passed  away. 

In  appearance  and  manners  Mr.  Brown  was  not  perhaps 
so  prepossessing  as  his  brother  Nicholas.  He  was  short  in 
stature,  and  inclined  to  corpulency.  In  his  bearing  he 
was  somewhat  imperious  at  times,  and  seemed  like  one 
born  to  command.  Had  he  entered  the  army,  he  would 
undoubtedly  have  attained  to  military  distinction,  possess 
ing  as  he  did  the  essential  qualities  of  a  great  commander. 

1  Commencement  dinners,  so  called,  were  first  provided  after  the  death  of 
President  Manning,  as  appears  from  the  following  entry  in  the  records  of  the 
corporation :  — 

"  COLLEGE  HILL,  Sept.  4, 1792. 

"  Voted,  That  the  person  who  collects  tuition  from  the  students,  in  future 
charge  each  student  with  one  dollar  per  year,  to  be  taxed  in  his  third  quarter's 
bill  for  the  year,  to  be  applied  towards  furnishing  a  public  dinner  annually  for 
the  corporation  and  gentlemen  of  a  literary  character  who  may  attend  the  Com 
mencements;  which  dinner  is  to  be  provided  by  the  steward  on  Commencement 
days,  under  the  direction  of  a  committee  appointed  by  this  corporation. 

"  Voted,  That  Dr.  Euos  Hitchcock,  Mr.  Welcome  Arnold,  and  Col.  Daniel 
Tillinghast  be  a  committee  for  directing  the  steward  in  providing  the  public 
dinner  the  next  Commencement." 

From  this  time  onward,  as  appears  from  the  records,  public  dinners  have  been 
regularly  furnished  for  the  corporation  and  graduates  of  the  college  on  Com 
mencement  occasions.  Of  late  years,  however,  the  tax  therefor  on  the  students 
has  been  confined  to  members  of  the  graduating  class. 

15 


170  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  III. 

As  an  instance  of  his  wonderful  influence  over  the  people, 
his  grandson,  Gov.  Francis,  relates,  that,  while  riding  about 
the  city  with  him,  a  fire  broke  out  at  India  Point.  He 
immediately  hastened  to  the  spot,  and  at  once  his  stento 
rian  voice  was  heard  above  the  noise  and  din,  giving  com 
mands  with  clearness  and  precision.  Order  took  the  place 
of  confusion.  The  crowd  looked  to  him  as  their  natural 
leader  in  this  emergency,  notwithstanding  the  presence  of 
several  fire  organizations ;  and  soon  the  fire  was  extin 
guished.  This  was  about  a  year  before  his  death.  Mr. 
Brown,  as  the  inscription  on  his  tombstone  states,  married 
a  daughter  of  Daniel  Smith,  of  Providence,  by  whom  he 
had  two  sons  and  four  daughters  ;  namely,  James,  who 
died  Dec.  12,  1834,  aged  seventy-three ;  Benjamin,  who 
died  July  7,  1774,  aged  ten  ;  Abigail,  who  died  in  infancy  ; 
Abby,  who  married,  Jan.  1,  1788,  John  Francis;  Sarah, 
who  married  Charles  F.  Herreshoff ;  and  Alice,  who  mar 
ried  James  Brown  Mason,  a  graduate  of  the  college  in  the 
Class  of  1791. 

Mr.  Brown  is  known  in  history  by  his  connection  with 
the  affair  of  the  Gaspee,  without  some  mention  of  which 
our  sketch  of  him  would  be  incomplete'.  We  have  there 
fore  compiled  the  following  account  from  Judge  Staples's 
"Documentary  History  of  the  Destruction  of  the  Gaspee," 
published  in  1845,  and  also  from  Lossing,  Arnold,  and  other 
writers,  as  a  fitting  close  to  this  brief  biography.  To  his 
grandson,  the  Hon.  J.  B.  Francis,  we  are  indebted  for  some 
particulars  of  this  transaction  not  found  in  the  published 
accounts. 

In  March,  1772,  the  Gaspee,  a  British  armed  schooner, 
first  appeared  in  the  waters  of  Narragansett  Bay,  having 
been  despatched  thither  by  the  commissioners  of  customs 
at  Boston  to  prevent  infractions  of  the  revenue  laws.  Her 


1769-1770. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  171 

appearance  disquieted   the   people,  and  her  interference 
with  the  free  navigation  of  the  bay  irritated  them, 
upon  a  spirited  correspondence  ensued,  between  Deputy 
Governor  Sessions  and  Gov.  Wanton  on    the  one  hand, 
and  Lieut.  Duddingston  and  Admiral  Montague    on  the 
other.     On  the  9th  of  June,  1772,  Capt.  Lindsey  left  New 
port  for  Providence  in  his  packet  the  Hannah.   The  Gaspee 
as  usual  gave  chase,  but  ran  aground  on  Namquit,  since 
called  Gaspee  Point,  below  Pawtuxet,  and  the  Hannah 
escaped,  arriving  safely  at  Providence  about  sunset.    Capt. 
Lindsey  at  once  communicated  the  fact  of  the  grounding 
of  the  Gaspee  to  Mr.  Brown,  who  thought  this  a  good 
opportunity  to  put  an  end  to  the  vexations  caused  by  her 
presence.   He  immediately  ordered  the  preparation  of  eight 
of  the  largest  long-boats  in  the  harbor,  to  be  placed  under 
the  general  command  of  Capt.  Abraham  Whipple,  after 
wards  commodore,  who  was  one  of  his  most  trusty  ship 
masters.     Information  of  the  enemy's  situation  was  pro 
claimed  by  beat  of  drum;  a  man  named  Daniel 
passing  along  Main  Street  and  inviting  such  of  the  inhab 
itants  as  were  willing  to  engage  in  a  perilous  enterprise 
for  the  destruction  of  the  Gaspee,  to  meet  at  the  house 
James  Sabine,  lately  the  residence  of  Richard  J.  Arnold, 
Esq.     The  boats  left  Providence  between  ten  and  elevei 
o'clock,  filled  with  sixty-four  well-armed  men,  and  between 
one  and  two  in  the  morning  they  reached  the  Gaspee. 
Two  shots  were  exchanged,  one  of  which  wounded  Lieut. 
Duddingston  in  the  groin.   This  was  the  first  British  blood 
shed  in  the  war  of  Independence.     The  schooner  was  now 
boarded  without  much  opposition,  and  the  crew  and  officers 
were  compelled  to  leave  with  their  effects,  when  she  was 
set  on  fire  and  blown  up.     Mr.  Brown  was  the  last  man  tc 
leave  the  deck,  being  determined  that  no  one  should 


172  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  III. 

from  the  vessel  anything  which  might  lead  to  the  identi 
fication  and  detection  of  the  parties.  By  so  doing  he  nar 
rowly  escaped  with  his  life,  in  consequence  of  the  falling 
timbers  and  spars. 

When  the  news  of  this  daring  feat  reached  England, 
the  King's  proclamation  was  issued,  offering  a  reward  of 
one  thousand  pounds  sterling  for  the  arrest  and  conviction 
of  the  two  leaders  of  the  affair,  and  five  hundred  pounds 
each  for  any  other  of  the  offenders,  with  a  free  pardon  in 
addition,  to  any  one  concerned,  except  the  two  chiefs,  who 
would  implicate  the  rest.  A  commission  of  inquiry,  under 
the  great  seal  of  England,  was  established,  which  sat  from 
the  4th  until  the  22d  of  January,  1773.  It  then  adjourned 
until  the  26th  of  May,  when  it  assembled  and  sat  until  the 
23d  of  June.  But  not  a  solitary  clew  to  the  identity  of 
the  perpetrators  of  the  deed  could  be  obtained,  notwith 
standing  they  were  well  known  to  the  people.  Many  of 
them  were  among  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  the  col 
ony.  The  price  of  treachery  on  the  part  of  any  accomplice 
would  have  been  exile  from  home  and  country  ;  and  the 
proffered  reward  was  not  adequate  to  such  a  sacrifice. 
Moreover,  those  whose  weak  moral  principles  or  strong 
acquisitiveness  might  have  tempted  them  into  a  compli 
ance  with  the  terms  of  the  proclamation,  were  bribed,  it  is 
said,  to  silence,  by  Mr.  Brown  and  some  of  his  associates. 
The  principal  actors,  besides  Mr.  Brown,  were  Capt.  Abra 
ham  Whipple,  John  B.  Hopkins,  Benjamin  Dunn,  Dr.  John 
Mawney,  Benjamin  Page,  Joseph  Bucklin,  Turpin  Smith, 
Ephraim  Bo  wen,  and  Capt.  Joseph  Tillinghast.  Mr.  Brown, 
says  Gov.  Francis,  afterwards  deeply  regretted  this  affair, 
as  foolhardy  in  itself,  and  resulting  in  so  much  needless  ap 
prehension  to  himself  and  family.  For  a  long  time  he 
was  accustomed  to  sleep  away  from  home,  lest  he  should 


1769-1770.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


be  arrested  during  the  night.  The  first  booming  of  the 
guns  at  Lexington  and  Concord  filled  his  mind  with  glad 
ness.  He  was  a  stranger  himself  to  fear,  but  he  rejoiced 
when  the  anxieties  and  fears  of  others  were  merged  in  the 
open  contest  now  commenced.  History  has  given  to  the 
leader  in  this  Rhode  Island  enterprise  the  fame  which  he 
so  richly  deserves. 


MOSES   BROWN. 


Moses,  the  youngest  of  the  brothers,  was  born  on  the  23d 
of  September,  1738.     His  father  dying  while  he  was  in  his 
infancy,  his  youth  and  early  manhood  were  spent  in  the  fam 
ily  of  his  uncle,  Obadiah  Brown,  a  wealthy  merchant  of 
Providence,  whose  daughter  he  married,  and  a  portion  of 
whose  estate  he  inherited  by  will.     In  1763,  one  year  pre 
vious  to  his  marriage,  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits, 
in  connection  with  his  three  brothers ;  but  after  ten  years 
of  active  life  he  withdrew  from  the  bustle  of  trade  to  that 
retirement  to  which  his  feeble  health  invited,  and  which 
was  more  congenial  to  his  early-formed  taste  for  intellec 
tual  pursuits.     Here  on  his  beautiful  estate  in  the  environs 
of  Providence,  in  rural  quiet  and  simplicity,  he  spent  a 
long  and  useful  life,  aiding  by  his  judicious  counsels  and 
abundant  wealth  in  the  promotion  of  intelligence,  piety, 
and  freedom  among  men.     In  his  religious  sentiments  Mr. 
Brown,  like  the  rest  of  his  family,  was  a  Baptist.     At  the 
early  age  of  thirty-five  he  became  a  member  of  the  society 
of  Friends ;  and  from  that  time  until  the  close  of  life,  a 
period  of  more  than  sixty  years,  he  was  a  firm  adherent 
to  the  primitive  doctrines  of  the  society ;  exerted  a  strong 
influence  in  all  its  concerns,  both  secular  and  religious ; 
sustained  many  of  its  most  important  offices  with  dignity 
15* 


174  MANNING   AND  CHAP,  III. 

and  usefulness ;  was  long  regarded  as  the  patriarch  of  the 
society;  and  was  greatly  respected  and  beloved  for  his 
many  Christian  virtues,  not  only  by  his  own  brethren,  but 
by  other  denominations.  He  was  the  founder  and  patron 
of  the  excellent  institution  known  as  the  "Friends'  Board 
ing  School"  in  Providence, — a  school  which,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  yearly  meeting  of  the  society,  has  done 
much  to  diffuse  the  influences  of  intellectual  culture  amono- 

o 

the  members  of  that  estimable  Christian  denomination. 
Among  Mr.  Brown's  donations  to  this  institution,  may  be 
mentioned  one  of  forty-three  acres  of  land,  on  which  the 
school  edifices  now  stand,  and,  at  his  decease,  a  house  and 
lot  near  the  school,  a  valuable  collection  of  books,  and 
fifteen  thousand  dollars  in  money.  Besides  these,  his  fa 
therly  regard  for  the  children  of  others  induced  him  to  ap 
propriate  one  hundred  dollars  annually  during  life  for  their 
education.  In  this  way  he  educated  thirty  individuals. 
He  was,  in  accordance  with  the  principles  of  the  religious 
denomination  to  which  he  belonged,  a  friend  of  peace,  and 
opposed  to  slavery  in  all  its  forms.  He  manumitted  his 
slaves  in  1773 ;  was  one  of  the  founders,  and  for  many  years 
an  efficient  member  of,  the  Abolition  Society  of  Rhode  Isl 
and,  and  was  also  an  active  member  and  liberal  supporter 
of  the  Rhode  Island  Peace  and  Bible  Societies.  Though 
his  constitution  was  originally  feeble,  yet  he  nearly  com 
pleted  his  ninety-eighth  year ;  until  his  last  illness  retaining 
in  a  remarkable  degree  the  use  of  his  faculties  of  body  and 
of  mind.  He  spent  much  of  his  time  in  reading  and  writ 
ing,  maintained  an  extensive  correspondence,  and  rarely 
made  use  of  a  clerk  or  an  amanuensis.  He  made  his  will  at 
the  age  of  ninety-six  ;  a  long  instrument,  exemplifying,  in 
an  interesting  manner,  his  attachment  to  his  friends,  and  his 
desire  to  promote  the  cause  of  education,  philanthropy,  and 


1769-1770. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  175 


religion.     His  death  took  place  at  Providence,  September 
6,  1836. 

Mr.  Brown  was  connected  with  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
being  one  of  the  earliest  members  of  St.  John's  Lodge, 
Providence.  He  received  his  first  degree  on  the  4th  of  Oc 
tober,  1758.  In  December  following,  he  was  elected  secre 
tary  of  the  Lodge,  an  office  which  he  retained  eleven  years. 
During  this  time  the  Lodge  held  ninety-seven  meetings,  at 
eighty  of  which  he  was  present, —  an  instance,  says  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Randall,  of  fidelity  to  official  duties  well  worthy  the 
imitation  of  the  generations  that  have  succeeded  him.  The 
discipline  of  the  society  of  Friends,  with  which  he  subse 
quently  connected  himself,  forbade  all  union  with  Masonry ; 
nevertheless,  he  continued  to  cherish  a  high  regard  for  the 
institution,  although  compelled  to  withdraw  from  active 
connection  with  the  fraternity.  His  brother  John,  it  may 
be  added,  was  initiated  a  member  of  the  Lodge  on  the 
29th  of  March,  1758,  and  his  brother  Joseph  on  the  6th  of 
April,  1757. 

A  fine  portrait  of  this  venerable  philanthropist  has  been 
placed  in  Manning  Hall,  with  the  portraits  of  other  distin 
guished  men.  It  was  painted  by  Mr.  Heade,  from  an 
original  sketch  by  W.  J.  Harris.  Mr.  Brown  was  three 
times  married ;  but  he  outlived  all  his  family  —  lacking  only 
two  years,  two  weeks,  and  two  days  of  being  one  hundred 
years  old.  By  his  first  wife,  Anna  Brown,  he  had  three 
children,  —  a  son  and  two  daughters.  One  of  the  latter 
died  in  infancy.  His  daughter  Sarah,  who  was  married  to 
William  Almy,  died  in  1794.  His  son  Obadiah  died  in 
1822,  in  the  vigor  and  strength  of  manhood.  His  only 
grandchild  was  the  late  Mrs.  Anna  Almy  Jenkins,  whose 
untimely  death,  at  the  burning  of  her  mansion,  cast  such  a 
gloom  over  the  entire  community.  Tt>  Moses  Brown 


176  MANNING  AND  BROWN  UNIVERSITY.       CHAP.  HI. 

Jenkins,  the  only  son  of  this  grand-daughter,  he  bequeathed 
the  house  and  lands  where,  in  peaceful  retirement,  he  had 
spent  sixty-five  years  of  his  life,  and  where  he  breathed  out 
his  latest  breath. 

In  closing  these  imperfect  sketches  of  the  Browns,  we 
can  but  express  our  regret  that  no  painter's  skill  has  trans 
ferred  to  canvas  (except  in  the  case  of  Moses  Brown), 
the  looks  and  features  of  these  great-hearted  men,  to 
whose  Christian  activity  and  benevolence  the  present 
generation  is  so  largely  indebted.  We  know  them  only 
by  their  works. 


CHAPTER    IV. 


1770-1773. 

First  Baptist  Church  of  Providence  —  Founded  by  Roger  Williams,  in  1639  — 
Samuel  Winsor  —  Manning's  connection  with  the  Church  -  Invited  to  preach 
—  Controversy  on  Singing  in  public  worship,  and  the  Imposition  of  Hands  — 
Becomes  the  Pastor  in  1771  —  Revival  under  his  preaching  —  Letter  to  Dr.  Sten- 
nett,  of  London,  giving  an  account  of  his  views  and  feelings  as  Pastor  of  the 
Church  and  President  of  the  College,  together  with  an  account  of  the  dispute 
between  the  Baptists  and  Congregationalists  of  Massachusetts,  New  Hampshire, 
and  Connecticut  — Circular  Letter'of  the  Warren  Association,  in  1770,  recom 
mending  the  churches  to  seek  redress  of  their  grievances  at  the  King's  Court 
in  England  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith  in  behalf  of  an  oppressed  Baptist 
Church  in  Richmond,  N.  H.  —Letter  to  Rev.  John  Ryland,  of  Northampton, 
England  — Bitterness  of  the  New  England  Congregationalists  in  general  to 
wards  the  College— Ryland's  reply—  List  of  worthy  men  of  learning  and 
character  in  England  deserving  the  honors  of  the  College  —Letter  from  Mor 
gan  Edwards  illustrating  the  ill-feeling  of  the  Congregationalists  towards  the 
College  —Extract  from  Prof.  Knowles's  Memoir  of  Roger  Williams  respecting 
the  expediency  of  unveiling  scenes  of  intolerance  and  persecution  — Account 
of  the  third  Commencement,  in  1771  —  Letter  to  Dr.  Llewelyn,  of  London,  giv 
ing  the  condition  and  prospects  of  the  College,  and  urging  its  claims  upon  his 
benevolence  —  Letter  to  Rev.  John  Ryland  —  Honors  of  the  College  —  Spread 
of  Baptist  sentiments  in  New  England  —  Manning  suggests  a  Lottery  to  aug 
ment  the  funds  of  the  College  —  His  connection  with  the  Latin  School  —  Man 
ning's  Salary  —  Letter  to  Rev.  John  Ryland  -  Gift  to  the  College  of  Dr.  Gill's 
Works  and  fifty-two  volumes  of  the  Fathers  —  Ryland's  letter  to  Manning  — 
Character  and  early  history  of  Ryland's  friend,  Rev.  Augustus  Toplady  —Let 
ter  to  Dr.  Stennett  —  Letter  from  Rev.  Isaac  Woodman,  of  Thorp,  England, 
suggesting  a  printed  Narrative  of  the  College  and  declining  its  honors— Man 
ning's  reply  —  Extract  from  a  letter  from  Ryland  respecting  a  History  of  the 
College  —  Playful  letter  to  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Benjamin 
Wallin,  a  wealthy  Baptist  of  London  — Wallin's  reply  — Letter  to  Ryland 
upon  academic  honors,  and  detailing  facts  illustrative  of  the  ill-will  of  Congre 
gationalists  towards  the  College  —  Ryland's  reply  —  List  of  Calviuistic  Baptist 
Ministers  in  England  able  to  read  the  Greek  Testament  —  Letter  from  Kev.  O. 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IV. 

Hart,  of  Charleston,  S.  C.,  thanking  Manning  for  the  discipline  of  the  rod  to 
his  son  —  Letter  to  Kyland  —  Letter  to  Wallin  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Abraham 
Booth,  of  London,  author  of  "  Reign  of  Grace." 

THE  connection  of  Dr.  Manning  with  the  B«iptist  church 
in  Providence  was  an  important  event  in  his  life,  and  is 
therefore  deserving  of  special  notice.  This  church  was 
founded  by  Roger  Williams,  during  the  year  1639  ;  and  it 
is  the  oldest  Baptist  church  in  America.  With  its  history 
prior  to  1770  we  have  now  no  special  concern.  At  that 
time  it  numbered  one  hundred  and  eighteen  communi 
cants,  and  was  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Winsor,  Jr.  Residing  at  a  distance  from  the  meeting 
house,  and  finding  the  duties  of  his  office  too  arduous  for 
him,  he  made  known  to  his  people  his  earnest  desire  to  be 
released  from  services  which  he  could  no  longer  perform 
without  infringing  upon  family  obligations,  which  he  re 
garded  as  paramount  to  all  others.  The  settlement  of 
Dr.  Manning  in  Providence  was  hailed  by  the  church  as  a 
happy  event,  supposing,  as  they  did,  that,  by  calling  him  to 
be  their  pastor,  they  could  carry  into  effect  the  wishes  of 
Mr.  Winsor.  He  was  at  once  invited  to  occupy  the  pul 
pit.  He  accepted  the  invitation,  and  preached  a  sermon 
on  a  Sunday  which  happened  to  be  the  day  for  the  admin 
istration  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  Several  of  the  members  of 
the  church  were,  however,  dissatisfied  that  "  the  privilege 
of  transient  communion"  should  have  been  allowed  to  Dr. 
Manning ;  believing  that  he  held  the  doctrine  of  imposition 
of  hands  rather  too  loosely,  and  that  he  practised  it  more 
to  accommodate  the  consciences  of  others  than  to  meet 
the  demands  of  his  own.  This  dissatisfaction  led  to  the 
formation  of  a  party,  and  to  a  series  of  church  meetings, 
in  which  the  majority,  however,  was,  in  every  instance, 
found  to  be  on  the  side  of  Manning.  With  this  party  Mr. 


1770-1773.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  170 

Winsor  himself  sympathized  and  acted.  This,  however, 
was  thought  by  some  to  be  only  "  the  ostensible  reason  " 
of  dissatisfaction  with  Mr.  Manning.  The  true  cause  of 
opposition  to  him  was  "  his  holding  to  singing  in  public 
worship,  which  was  highly  disgustful  to  Mr.  Winsor." 
On  this  point  the  sentiments  of  the  Quakers  appear  to 
have  prevailed  in  the  church,  and  singing  was  discarded 
as  unauthorized  by  the  New  Testament.  What  diversity 
of  opinion  once  existed  touching  a  point  which  seems  clear 
to  us,  may  readily  be  seen  by  consulting  the  controversial 
works,  on  this  subject,  of  Keach,  Russell,  Allen,  Marlow, 
Claridge,  and  others,  published  in  London  towards  the 
close  of  the  seventeenth  century. 

Finally,  adopting  for  the  most  part  the  language  of  the 
church  records,  Mr.  Winser,  in  April,  1771,  presented  to 
the  church  a  writing,  signed  by  a  number  of  the  members, 
stating  that  they  were  in  conscience  bound  to  withdraw 
from  such  as  did  not  "  hold  strictly  to  the  six  principles 
of  the  doctrine  of  Christ  as  laid  down  in  Hebrews  vi.  1,  2." 
In  May  following  he  accordingly  withdrew,  and  joined 
the  "  Separates."  After  advising  with  the  Rev.  Gardner 
Thurston  of  Newport,  Rev.  Messrs.  Job  and  Russel  Mason 
of  Swanzey,  and  others,  the  church  appointed  a  meeting 
to  consider  the  propriety  of  calling  President  Manning  to 
administer  ordinances  ;  whereupon  the  following  resolution 
was  passed  :  — 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  Old  Baptist  Church  in  Provi 
dence,  in  church  meeting  assembled  this  31st  day  of  July,  1771,  Daniel 
Jenckes,  Esq.,  moderator :  Whereas,  Elder  Samuel  Winsor,  now  of 
Johnston,  has  withdrawn  himself,  and  a  considerable  number  of  members 
of  this  church,  from  their  communion  with  us  who  live  in«town  ;  and  we, 
being  destitute  of  a  minister  to  administer  the  ordinances  amongst  us, 
have  met  together  in  order  to  choose  and  appoint  a  suitable  person  for 


180  MANNING  AND  CHAP.  IV. 

this  purpose.  Upon  due  consideration,  the  members  choose  and  appoint 
Elder  James  Manning  to  preach  and  administer  the  communion  accord 
ing  to  our  former  usage." 

To  the  above  resolve  Mr.  Manning  returned  the  follow 
ing  answer :  — 

"  As  the  church  is  destitute  of  an  administrator,  and  think  the  cause  of 
religion  suffers  through  the  neglect  of  the  ordinances  of  God's  house,  I 
consent  to  undertake  to  administer  pro  tempore ;  that  is,  until  there  may 
be  a  more  full  disquisition  of  the  matter,  or  time  to  seek  other  help  ;  at 
least,  until  time  may  prove  whether  it  will  be  consistent  with  my  other 
engagements,  and  for  the  general  interests  of  religion." 

Thus  commenced  a  relation,  which,  through  various 
vicissitudes  and  trials,  incident  to  the  disturbed  times  that 
soon  followed,  continued,  with  credit  to  the  pastor  and 
with  great  advantage  to  the  church  and  congregation, 
down  to  a  short  period  before  Mr.  Manning's  death,  in 
1791.  At  first  his  preaching  was  not  attended  with  marked 
results.  But  in  1774  a  remarkable  revival  of  religion  at 
tended  his  labors,  as  the  fruits  of  which  one  hundred  and 
four  persons  were  added  to  the  church.  "  It  is  delightful," 
says  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hague  in  his  Historical  Discourse,  "  to 
place  ourselves  in  imagination  amidst  the  scenes  of  that 
year,  —  to  picture  before  us  the  able  and  faithful  preacher 
who  then  officiated  here  as  he  stood  up  amidst  the  large 
assemblies  of  the  people  who  thronged  around  him,  listen 
ing,  as  they  did,  to  the  gospel  with  intense  attention,  as  a 
message  from  the  skies  —  the  very  word  of  God,  which 
worketh  effectually  in  them  that  believe,  —  to  mark  the 
lively  interest  which  was  kindled  in  every  bosom  and 
beamed  from  every  eye,  as  one  after  another  came  forth 
« on  the  side  of  the  Lord,'  and  professed  his  faith  in  public 
baptism,  —  to  contemplate  the  fresh  springs  of  spiritual 


1770-1773.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  181 

life  which  were  then  opened  in  many  a  house  when  the 
family  altar  was  first  erected  there,  and  parents  and  chil 
dren  bowed  together  to  worship  the  common  Father  and 
Redeemer  in  spirit  and  in  truth." 

The  following  letter  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stennett  gives 
a  pleasing  account  of  Manning's  feelings  in  view  of  the 
responsibility  of  his  position  as  head  of  the  college  and 
pastor  of  the  church  :  — 

PROVIDENCE,  June  5,  1771. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

Your  most  agreeable  favor  of  August  10th,  1770,  came  to  hand  the  19th 
of  January,  1771,  after  our  ships  had  sailed  for  London;  and  conse 
quently  I  have  had  no  opportunity  of  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  it  be 
fore.  There  are  two  ships  from  this  town  which  make  two  voyages  a 
year  to  London,  besides  others  from  the  colony,  by  which  letters  will  have 
a  safe  conveyance.  The  captains ''names  are  Shand  and  Gilbert.  I  men 
tion  this  that  there  may  be  the  most  direct  conveyance. 

I  thank  you  for  the  expressions  of  kindness  and  respect  in  your  letter, 
and  am  as  desirous  as  before  to  keep  up  a  correspondence  as  often  as  op 
portunity  will  admit.  Mr.  Gordon,  the  gentleman  by  whom  you  wrote,  has 
never  called  on  me,  nor  can  I  hear  any  direct  account  of  him  since  his  ar 
rival  in  America.  Your  good  wishes  to  the  college  are  very  acceptable, 
and  we  doubt  not  your  readiness  to  contribute  all  in  your  power  to  its 
future  growth  and  increase.  The  popularity,  usefulness,  etc.,  of  our  first 
sons,  is  to  me  an  object  truly  desirable  ;  but  these  things  I  leave  to  the 
wise  conduct  of  the  supreme  Governor  of  the  church.  One  of  the  youth,1 
graduated  at  our  first  Commencement,  who  is  thought  to  be  savingly 
brought  home  by  grace,  has  joined  Mr.  Thurston's  church  in  Newport, 
and  appears  eminently  pious.  As  soon  as  his  age  will  admit,  for  he  is 
quite  a  youth,  he  will  be  called  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  with  hopes  of 
his  making  a  distinguished  figure  in  the  pulpit.  He  bcai*s  the  greatest 
resemblance  to  Mr.  Hezekiah  Smith  of  any  person  I  know,  and  I  hope 
will  make  such  another  son  of  thunder.  I  am  constrained  to  think  that 
Providence  placed  me  at  the  head  of  the  college  ;  but  for  what  end  I  can 
not  divine,  I  hope  for  good ;  for  my  ease  and  worldly  advantage  it  could 

i  William  Rogers. 

16 


182  MANNING   A N D  CHAP.  IV. 

not  certainly  be,  for  I  have  been  constrained  to  forego  these,  and  many 
more  things  desirable  in  life,  on  this  account ;  and  in  the  discharge  of  my 
office  here  I  have  found  my  way  strewn  with  thorns  hitherto. 

Dr.  Llewelyn's  friendship  for  the  college  is  highly  satisfactory  to  us. 
He  has  it  in  his  power,  and,  we  have  reason  to  believe,  in  his  heart,  to  do 
it  great  service.  I  should  highly  prize  a  correspondence  with  a  gentle 
man  of  his  merit,  were  a  door  properly  open  for  it  ;  but  to  address  him 
with  a  letter,  uninvited,  and  without  particular  cause  for  so  doing,  migbt 
be  deemed  too  great  forwardness  in  me.  I  therefore  choose  to  defer  it  at 
present.  We  were  sensibly  affected  at  the  news  of  Mr.  Roffey's  death,  as 
he  promised  usefulness  to  the  public  ;  but  God  can  raise  up  men  to  carry 
on  his  own  cause,  in  an  unexpected  way.  The  government  is  upon  His 
shoulders ;  therefore  we  ought  to  rejoice.  But  nothing  gives  one  such  sat 
isfaction  as  the  account  you  give  me  of  the  success  of  the  gospel  in  Eng 
land.  I  firmly  believe  there  are  yet  glorious  days  for  the  church  militant, 
and  that  the  doctrine  of  believer's  baptism  will  prevail  in  proportion  to 
the  prevalence  of  the  religion  of  the  heart.  I  do  not  imagine  this  only  from 
my  own  sentiments  that  it  is  an  important  and  glorious  ordinance  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  but  from  facts  ;  for  I  have  observed  for  some  years  past  that 
in  this  country  it  has  been  invariably  the  case  where  there  has  been  a  pow 
erful  moving  of  the  Spirit  of  God  upon  the  minds  of  men.  I  will  give 
you  a  recent  instance.  God  has  been  doing  wonders  in  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina  within  these  few  years  past.  Thousands  have  been  hope 
fully  converted  to  God  in  these  two  provinces ;  and  my  Brother  Gano,  who 
travelled  through  these  provinces  last  summer  and  fall,  informs  me  that 
not  less  than  two  thousand  have  been  baptized  by  immersion,  upon  pro 
fession  of  their  faith.  And  it  has  been  observed  there,  that  persons  were 
no  sooner  brought  into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  gospel  than  they  fol 
lowed  the  example  of  their  Divine  Master  by  going  down  into  the  water; 
and  that,  too,  where  the  name  of  Baptist  was  scarcely  known.  This 
work,  I  am  told,  still  continues,  and  extends  five  hundred  miles  in  length 
through  the  country.  Truly,  light  has  risen  to  those  who  were  in  the  re 
gion  and  shadow  of  death;  for  when  I  travelled  through  that  country 
about  ten  years  ago,  I  thought  as  Abraham  did  of  Zoar,  that  the  fear  of 
God  was  not  in  that  place.  To  me  it  seemed  to  be  the  rendezvous  of 
devils.  But  what  cannot  God  do  ?  This  indeed  is  all  my  consolation 
when  I  view  the  unpromising  appearance  of  religion  in  many  places,  — 
that  God  not  only  can,  but  will  work,  and  none  shall  let  or  hinder  it. 
There  is  a  gradual  increase  of  the  work  of  religion  in  sundry  places  in 


1770-1773.  BROWN  "UNIVERSITY.  183 

New  England.  Mr.  Smith,  I  am  told,  is  still  marvellously  owned  in  his 
labors,  and  that  he  was  lately  called  to  administer  baptism  to  numbers  at 
a  distance  from  where  he  resides,  and  to  constitute  two  or  three  Baptist 
churches.  I  can  say  but  little  of  my  success  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord, 
although  I  hope  there  are  some  promising  appearances  of  conviction 
amongst  us.  The  last  Lord's  Day  there  appeared  an  unusual  solemnity 
in  the  assembly,  and  I  trust  God  enabled  me,  though  a  worm,  to  speak 
with  some  happy  degree  of  zeal  and  earnestness  in  warning  souls  of  their 
danger ;  and  if  flowing  eyes  may  be  thought  a  presage  of  the  return  of 
wanderers  to  God,  I  am  not  without  hope  of  some  seals  of  my  ministry. 
But  alas  my  unprofitableness  !  — my  unworthincss  to  be  employed  in  so 
sacred  a  work  !  If  ever  one  soul  is  converted  by  my  instrumentality,  it 
will  clearly  appear  that  the  excellency  of  the  power  is  all  of  God. 

But  I  cease  to  trouble  you  with  my  unprofitable  complaints,  and  pro 
ceed  to  give  you  some  short  account  of  the  dispute  between  Baptists  and 
Presbyterians  in  the  provinces  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  New  Hampshire, 
and  Connecticut ;  in  the  latter  of  which,  I  am  told,  some  of  our  brethren 
arc  now  in  jail  for  ministerial  rat6s,  and  in  the  other  two  many  are  forci 
bly  despoiled  of  their  property  for  the  same  purpose.  The  Presbyterians, 
I  believe,  are  determined,  where  they  have  the  power,  to  use  it  against  us 
to  prevent  our  growth ;  for  no  effectual  remedy  can  yet  be  obtained, 
though  it  has  been  carefully  and  industriously  sought.  They  arc  afraid, 
if  they  relax  the  secular  arm,  their  tenets  have  not  merit  enough  and  a 
sufficient  foundation  to  stand.  This  has  been  so  plainly  hinted  by  some 
of  the  committees  of  the  General  Court,  upon  treating  with  our  people, 
that  I  think  it  cannot  be  deemed  a  breach  of  charity  to  think  thus  of  them. 
However,  I  will  not  pretend  to  justify  everything  which  has  been  said  and 
done  by  Baptists  during  this  controversy.  I  fear  there  has  been  too  great 
warmth  in  some  publications ;  yet  it  is  certain  that  there  has  been  great 
provocation  to  write  and  speak  some  bitter  things.  However,  I  am  far 
from  believing  that  the  cause  of  God  requires  acrimony  in  defending  it, 
especially  as  the  great  Example  of  his  people  "  reviled  not  again  when  he 
was  reviled."  Upon  the  whole,  it  is  very  uncertain  what  will  be  the  issue 
of  the  matter,  whether  we  must  address  the  throne  of  our  sovereign  for 
relief,  or  not.  The  contention  has  been  improved  as  an  argument  against 
sending  scholars  from  that  denomination  to  our  college.  How  long  this 
will  continue  I  know  not ;  but  at  present  the  clergy  use  all  their  endeavors 
to  this  purpose. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  that  there  are  three  Baptists  in   the  trust  of  Dr. 


184  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IV. 

Moore's  fund  who  will  see  that  the  money  is  appropriated  according  to 
the  original  proposal ;  for  our  brethren  of  that  denomination  need  good 
looking  after  in  these  matters,  if  we  may  judge  from  what  has  happened 
before. 

I  suppose  you  have  heard  that  Dr.  Wheelock  has  obtained  a  charter  for 
a  college  in  the  province  of  New  Hampshire,  and  about  twenty  thousand 
acres  of  land  as  an  endowment,  from  the  Governor  and  other  gentlemen 
who  are  largely  concerned  in  lands  there.  He  has  begun  his  business,  and 
carried  it  forward  with  great  rapidity.  In  short,  from  what  I  can  gather, 
it  is  to  be  a  grand  Presbyterian  college,  instead  of  a  school  for  the  poor 
Indians.  There  Avere  but  two  Indians  there  at  school  last  fall,  and  they 
were  Narragansetts  from  this  colony,  brought  up  like  us.  Moreover,  it 
is  more  than  a  hundred  miles  distant  from  any  number  of  Indians.  I 
have  conversed  with  two  intelligent  gentlemen  from  that  part  of  the  coun 
try,  and,  from  what  I  can  gather,  the  money  raised  in  England  by 
Whitaker  and  Oakam  will  be  as  greatly  prostituted  as  ever  the  fund  for 
propagating  the  gospel  in  foreign  parts  has  been  by  another  denomination 
of  Christians. 

As  to  political  matters,  all  is  peace  and  quietness  with  us,  though  we 
hear  that  the  city  of  London  and  the  House  of  Commons  have  proceeded 
to  great  lengths  in  opposing  one  other,  and  that  the  Lord  Mayor  and  Al 
derman  Oliver  are  committed  to  the  Tower.  We  are  anxious  for  the  re 
sult  of  this  procedure  ;  but  hope  that  God  will  order  all  matters  for  the 
best,  and  bring  good  out  of  evil. 

We  now  proceed  slowly  with  the  college,  as  our  succors  from  abroad 
fail.  I  hope  we  may  have  some  more  assistance  from  Great  Britain  as 
soon  as  may  be. 

If  your  patience  is  not  quite  gone,  permit  me  to  request  the  favor  of  a 
letter  by  our  vessels  this  summer,  in  which  you  need  not  fear  trespassing 
upon  my  patience,  though  I  have  reason  to  fear  I  have  upon  yours,  and 
therefore  subscribe,  what  I  am  in  truth,  dear  sir, 

Your  very  affectionate  friend  and  brother  in  the  Lord, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

Allusion  having  been  made  in  the  foregoing  communica 
tion  to  an  effort  on  the  part  of  the  denomination  to  seek 
redress  from  their  grievances  by  direct  application  to  the 
"  throne  of  our  sovereign,"  or  king,  the  following  circular 


1770-1773.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  185 

is  presented  as  a  sort  of  appendix  thereto.  Aside  from  its 
value  in  the  connection,  it  will  be  read  with  interest  as  an 
illustration  of  the  spirit  and  zeal  of  our  fathers,  among 
whom  Manning  was  regarded  as  a  "  prince  and  a  leader." 
It  has  never  before,  we  believe,  been  printed. 


CIRCULAR   LETTER   OF   THE   WARREN   ASSOCIATION.      1770. 

The  Elders  and  Messengers  met  in  association  at  Bellingham,  September 
llth,  12th,  and  13th.  To  the  churches  they  represent,  and  all  others  of 
the  denomination  of  Baptists,  send  greeting  : 

"We  met  in  peace,  and  upon  reading  the  letters  from  the  several  churches, 
found  that  they  were  generally  at  peace  among  themselves,  some  of  them 
having  had  considerable  additions,  —  the  number  of  which,  in  all  the 
churches,  amounts  to  fifty-six.  We  find  that  God  hath  not  left  himself 
without  a  witness,  but  is  still  carrying  on  the  work  of  grace  in  the 
churches.  We  would  not  despise  the  day  of  small  things  ;  yet  at  the  same 
time  desire  you  to  unite  in  solemn  prayer  to  the  great  Head  of  the 
church,  that  he  would  hasten  the  time  when  converts  shall  come  as  the 
clouds,  and  fly  as  doves  to  their  windows.  Oh  happy  period,  which  God 
in  his  wisdom  has  given  us  reason  to  expect,  when  the  whole  world  shall 
be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  !  We  have  however  to  inform 
you,  dearly  beloved,  that  some  of  our  churches  are  sorely  oppressed  on 
account  of  religion.  Their  enemies  continue  to  triumph  over  them  ;  and 
as  repeated  applications  have  been  made  to  the  court  of  justice  and  to 
the  general  courts  for  redress  of  such  grievances,  but  as  yet  have  been 
neglected,  it  is  now  become  necessary  to  carry  the  affair  to  England  in 
order  to  lay  it  before  the  King.  It  is  therefore  warmly  recommended  to 
you  to  endeavor  to  collect  money  to  defray  the  expense  which  will  arise 
from  such  a  proceeding.  Should  you  not  contribute  in  this  matter,  some 
of  our  brethren  must  unavoidably  be  ruined  as  to  this  world ;  especially 
our  brethren  at  Ashfield,  some  of  whose  lands  have  been  taken  from  them 
and  sold  for  a  trifle.  Brethren,  make  the  case  your  own,  and  then  do  as 
you  would  be  done  by.  We  also  recommend  to  you  to  search  for  prom 
ising  gifts  among  yourselves,  and  bring  them  to  the  trial,  as  there  is  a 
great  want  of  ministerial  help  in  the  churches.  In  fine,  brethren,  live  in 
love ;  preserve  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bonds  of  peace ;  keep  your 
16* 


186  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IV. 

garments  unspotted  by  the  flesh,  and  may  the  God  of  peace  and  love  be 
with  you. 

P.  S.  —  The  churches  are  requested  to  be  expeditious  in  sending  their 
contributions  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Stillman,  of  Boston,  who  is  appointed 
treasurer,  and  to  take  his  receipts.  If  our  agent,  Mr.  Hezekiah  Smith, 
should  not  go  to  England,  the  money  will  be  returned  when  demanded. 
It  is  also  requested  that  the  churches  will  unite  in  keeping  the  first  Thurs 
day  in  October  next  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  to  entreat  God  to 
favor  our  undertaking  to  obtain  liberty  of  conscience,  and  to  save  our  prop 
erty,  and  consequently  our  families,  from  ruin ;  also  that  He  will  be  gra 
ciously  pleased  to  revive  religion,  and  to  deliver  our  nation  from  its  pres 
ent  difficulties. 

To  his  friend  the  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith  he  thus  writes. 
Manning,  Edwards,  and  others,  it  will  be  observed,  not 
unfrequently  use  the  term  Presbyterians  for  Congregation- 
alists.  The  two  denominations  are  much  more  distinct  at 
the  present  day  than  they  were  a  century  ago. 

NEWPORT,  May  1,  1771. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

I  perceive,  by  an  application  made  to  a  neighboring  Baptist  church, 
that  the  people  in  Richmond,  in  Hampshire  Government  (I  mean  the 
Baptist  church  there),  are  in  great  distress  on  account  of  the  taxes  for  the 
clergy ;  and  so  are  the  Baptists  in  sundry  other  towns  thereabouts.  The 
charter  gave  a  farm  to  the  first  settled  minister  in  that  town ;  and  Mr.  Ba- 
low,  the  Baptist  minister,  was  the  first,  though  a  Eriend  speaker  was  there 
before  him.  Now  the  Friends  have  united  with  the  Presbyterians,  and 
voted  the  farm  for  the  use  of  the  town.  Upon  the  whole  they  seem 
troubled  much,  and  some  are  likely  to  be  totally  ruined  by  the  Presbyte 
rians.  Now  if  you  can  lend  any  aid  or  assistance,  you  will  do  them  a  sin 
gular  favor;  and  I  have  been  urged  to  write  to  you,  that,  if  possible,  you 
might  make  interest  with  the  Governor,  or  some  of  the  great  men,  to  re 
dress  these  grievances.  I  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Edwards,  dated 
March,  which  informs  me  that  he  has  a  law  of  New  Hampshire  which 
obliges  the  Baptists  to  pay  their  ministers,  —  that  is,  Presbyterian  minis 
ters,  —  and  he  is  greatly  afraid  they  will  fall  into  the  snare.  Pray  do  your 
utmost  to  prevent  the  Baptists  from  taking  the  benefit  of  that  law ;  for  the 


1770-1773. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  187 


Presbyterians  will  triumph  in  that  case.      Mr.  Rogers,  the  bearer,  will 
give  you  information  of  my  affairs,  and  other  matters  in  these  parts ;  so 
that  nothing  remains  but  to  desire  you  with  Mrs.  Smith  to  pay  us  a  visit 
soon,  to  whom  with  yourself  I  give  my  sincere  love,  and  remain,  sir, 
Your  very  loving  friend, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

The  following  letter  was  the  commencement  of  a  corres 
pondence  with  the  Rev.  John  Ryland,  of  Northampton, 
England,  for  many  years  principal  of  a  flourishing  acade 
my  in  that  place.  Mr.  Ryland  was  a  distinguished  scholar 
as  well  as  a  Baptist  preacher,  and  was  held  in  high  esteem 
by  Dr.  Johnson  and  other  eminent  men  of  his  time.  He 
published  "  Contemplations  on  the  Beauties  of  Creation," 
in  three  volumes  octavo,  "  Essay  on  the  Advancement  of 
Learning,"  and  various  sermons  and  pamphlets.  He  died 

in  1792. 

PROVIDENCE,  June  1,  1771. 
REVEREND  SIR  : 

By  the  Rev.  Morgan  Edwards,  last  year.  I  was  directed  to  draw  upon 
you,  the  first  of  June,  for  five  guineas,  which  you  proposed  to  contribute 
annually  to  the  support  of  the  President  of  Rhode  Island  College  during 
life,  if  your  circumstances  would  admit  of  it.  I  drew  accordingly  in 
favor  of  Messrs.  Joseph  and  William  Russell,  merchants  of  Providence  ; 
and,  according  to  my  instructions,  have  done  the  like  this  year,  in  favor 
of  the  same  gentlemen. 

Your  zeal  for  the  welfare  of  this  young  seminary,  discovered  in  this  as 
well  as  many  other  instances,  has  gained  you  the  high  esteem  of  all  the 
true  friends  of  the  college  here  ;  but  the  particular  favor  done  me  herein 
has  laid  me  under  the  strongest  obligations  of  gi'atitude,  of  which  I  hope 
not  to  be  unmindful,  in  any  instance,  when  in  my  power  to  express  a 
proper  sense  of  them ;  and  at  present  I  can  only  do  this  by  the  strong 
est  expressions  of  thankfulness,  and  fervent  prayer  to  God  that  he  would 
abundantly  reward  your  beneficence  in  this  and  in  the  life  to  come. 

I  was  particularly  obliged  in  your  favoring  me  with  the  patterns  of  the 
regular  Greek  and  Latin  nouns  and  verbs,  etc.,  and  find  it  the  most  easy 
method  of  leading  boys  into  a  general  notion  of  grammar  in  a  short  time. 
The  college  in  this  place  consists  of  twenty-three  youths,  five  of  whom  are 


188  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IV. 

to  leave  us  in  the  fall ;  though  we  hope  to  have  some  additions  at  that 
time.  The  institution  calls  for  the  vigorous  exertions  of  all  its  friends,  as 
well  on  account  of  the  smallness  of  its  funds  as  the  unreasonable  opposi 
tion  made  against  it  by  Pedobaptists  ;  especially  the  New  England  Pres 
byterians  in  general,  who  express  the  greatest  bitterness  on  every  occasion. 
The  part  I  have  had  to  act  in  the  matter  has  exposed  me  to  numberless 
difficulties  hitherto ;  although  I  am  cheerful  under  the  hopes  of  its  rising, 
at  some  future  period,  to  be  the  joy  of  its  friends  and  the  denomination, 
as  well  as  the  mortification  of  its  ungenerous  enemies.  The  state  of  reli 
gion  in  New  England  is  at  a  low  ebb  in  general,  except  a  few  places, 
amongst  which  Mr.  Stillman's  of  Boston  is  one,  where  there  have  been 
lately  large  additions  to  the  church.  Should  there  be  any  gentlemen  of 
your  acquaintance  in  England  on  whom  diplomas  might  be  well  bestowed, 
we  should  always  be  glad  to  be  advised  thereof,  and  confer  them  accord 
ingly.  Forgive  this  unsolicited  scrawl,  and  believe  that  it  had  its  birth 
in  the  unfeigned  gratitude  and  real  friendship  of,  sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

To  this  letter  Ryland  thus  replies  :  — 

TO  MY  WORTHY  FRIEND,  Mil.  JAMES  MANNING, 

PRESIDENT  OF  RHODE  ISLAND  COLLEGE  : 

REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  :  —  I  received  your  letter  in  due  course  by 
the  post  from  London,  and  took  care  to  pay  your  draft  on  me  for  £5  5s. 
when  it  came  for  payment,  which  it  did  in  the  beginning  of  December. 
Where  it  lodged  all  that  time  after  you  drew  it,  I  know  not. 

Be  assured  that  I  have  the  interests  of  your  college  deeply  at  my  heart ; 
and  in  order  to  serve  it  I  have  picked  out  the  enclosed  list  of  scholars,  for 
whom  I  solicit  some  of  your  academical  feathers,  to  the  end  that  we  may 
attach  as  great  a  number  of  active  and  learned  men  to  your  seminary  as 
we  can.  Who  knows  but  some  of  them  may  do  you  more  service  in  the 
long  run  than  we  can  at  present  imagine  1  I  am  determined  to  send  over 
some  names  every  year  as  long  as  I  live  ;  but  be  assured  I  shall  not  rec 
ommend  one  that  shall  be  a  dishonor  to  your  college,  if  I  know  it. 

Have  you  had  a  short  account  of  the  ministers  and  churches  of  the  Bap 
tist  denomination  in  England  ?  If  not  I  shall  take  care  to  send  it.  At 
present  I  would  just  observe  that  we  have  about  two  hundred  and  fourteen 
churches  and  ministers.  About  twenty-four  ministers,  perhaps  twenty-six, 
can  read  the  original  languages  in  which  the  Bible  was  written.  Amongst 


1770-1773.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  189 

them  I  have  a  son  (John),  nineteen  years  of  age,  who  was  called  to  the 
ministry  last  year.  He  read  his  Greek  Testament  into  English  all  through 
before  lie  was  nine  years  old,  and  is  very  ready  at  Hebrew,  Latin,  and 
French.  Grace  called  him  at  fourteen  years  of  age.  I  baptized  him  when 
he  was  about  fifteen,  and  we  received  hirn  into  the  church.  He  proves  a 
good,  zealous  boy,  and  the  people  of  God  love  to  hear  him  preach.  He 
has  ventured  to  publish  a  volume  of  poems  on  experimental  religion,  the 
whole  edition  of  which,  five  hundred,  has  gone  off  in  less  than  a  year.  If 
I  can  procure  a  copy,  I  will  send  you  one  for  your  public  library.  Per 
haps  it  may  be  a  stimulus  to  some  lazy  student  on  your  side  of  the  water. 
My  opinion,  I  am  persuaded,  is  the  same  with  yours,  "  that  young  boys 
and  students  need  all  sorts  of  motives  to  keep  them  in  a  steady,  regular, 
resolute  pursuit  of  learning  and  religion/'  and  for  this  purpose  academi 
cal  honors  were  wisely  instituted ;  and  'tis  for  this  reason  I  desire  for 
my  brethren  in  the  ministry  who  desire  it  the  honors  of  your  college,  in 
order  to  incite  others  to  the  same  diligence.  I  am  sorry  to  say  it,  but  'tis 
too  true,  that  above  one  hundred  and  seventy  Baptist  ministers  in  England 
have  been  kept  from  reading  the'  Hebrew  Bible  and  Greek  Testament 
more  by  laziness  and  cowardice  than  by  the  difficulty  of  attaining  it.  I 
want  to  rouse  these  sluggards  into  diligence,  and  for  that  purpose  I  ear 
nestly  beg  your  assistance. 

N.  B.  —  Out  of  ten  thousand  clergy,  we  have  seventy  or  eighty  that 
preach  the  gospel.  The  Presbyterians  are  almost  all  gone  off  to  Socini- 
anism.  We  have  a  few  in  London  that  are  excellent  men  ;  namely,  Dr. 
Langford,  Dr.  Trotter,  Gco.  Stephens  A.M.,  Mr.  Hunter,  and  the  Kev. 
Mr.  Spilsbury.  I  cannot  at  present  give  you  an  exact  list  of  our  Inde 
pendent  ministers  in  London  and  the  country,  but  shall  try  to  send  you 
an  account.  Let  me  be  sure  to  hear  from  you  four  times  a  year ;  that 
is  to  say,  once  every  quarter. 

WORTHY  MEN  OF  LEARNING  AND  CHARACTER  WHO  DESERVE  THE 
HONORS  OF  RHODE  ISLAND  COLLEGE. 

I.    OF  THE  ESTABLISHED  CHURCH  OF  ENGLAND. 

1.  AUGUSTUS  MONTAGUE  TOPLADY,  A.B.,  Hector  of 


These  are 


Broad  Hemburg,  Devon. 


most  excellent        ^  HENRY  FOSTER,  A.B.,  Curate  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ro- 
men  as          H 

scholars  maine- 

and  divines.         3.  JOHN  NEWTON,  Curate  of  Olney ;  a  man  of  uncom 
mon  wisdom,  and  a  fine  writer. 


190  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  IV. 

II.    INDEPENDENTS. 

1.  WILLIAM  PORTER,  minister  in  Camomile  Street. 

2.  JOHN  STAFFORD,  successor  to  Dr.  Guise. 

3.  JOHN  PYE,  minister  at  Sheffield,  Yorkshire. 

4.  WILLIAM  HEXTALL,  successor  to  Dr.  Doddridge,  at  Northampton. 

5.  MOSES  GREGSON,  at  Rowell,  Northamptonshire. 

6.  JOSHUA  SYMMONDS,  at  Bedford.    Preaches  in  John  Banyan's  pulpit. 

7.  Rev.  JAMES  JENNINGS,  at  Islington,  near  London. 

8.  SAMUEL  WILTON,  at  Tooting,  in  Surrey. 

III.    PARTICULAR  BAPTISTS. 

1.  ROBERT  DAY,  of  Wellington,  Somersetshire. 

2.  JOHN  BROWN,  of  Kettering,  Northamptonshire. 

3.  JOHN  ASH,  of  Pershore,  Worcestershire. 

4.  JOHN  POYNTING,  of  Worcester. 

5.  BENJAMIN  FULLER,  of  Devizes,  Wiltshire.      (An  old,  rich,  learned 

man,  that  can  leave  £100  to  the  college.) 

6.  JOHN  OULTON,  of  Rawdon,  in  Yorkshire.1 

The  "bitterness"  of  the  Congregationalists  of  New 
England  towards  the  college,  to  which  Manning  alludes, 
and  their  "  unreasonable  opposition  "  to  it  from  its  begin 
ning,  are  illustrated  in  the  following  extract  from  a  letter 
addressed  to  him  by  his  friend  Morgan  Edwards.  The 
writer  supposes  the  President  to  have  expected  the  friend 
ship  and  help  of  the  Congregationalists,  had  not  the  Bap 
tists  complained  of  the  oppression  of  their  brethren  in  New 
England,  and  threatened  to  carry  their  complaints  to  the 
throne  of  the  King,  in  case  the  oppression  should  be  con- 

1  The  seventeen  names  mentioned  in  the  above  list  all  received  the  honor 
ary  degree  of  A.M.  at  the  annual  Commencement  of  the  college  in  1773  and  in 
1774.  (See  Triennial  Catalogue.)  It  does  not,  however,  appear  that  Mr.  liyland's 
good  wishes  in  regard  to  the  benefit  which  the  college  might  thereby  derive 
were  ever  realized,  at  least  to  any  great  extent.  The  unhappy  feeling  engendered 
by  the  war  of  the  Revolution  was,  probably,  the  cause  of  this  apparent  neglect 
or  indifference. 


1770-1773.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  191 

tinned.  The  letter,  which  is  published  in  Staples's  Annals 
of  Providence,  is  a  brief  recapitulation  of  facts  already 
stated  in  other  forms.  Mr.  Edwards  was  evidently  accus 
tomed  to  express  his  opinions  without  reserve,  and  some 
times,  perhaps,  with  a  little  too  much  pungency. 

"  I  should  not  have  ventured  to  oppose  my  opinions  to  yours,  had  not 
facts,  recent  facts,  decided  the  matter  in  my  favor,  and  shown  that  the 
goodness  and  candor  of  the  President  have  imposed  on  his  judgment. 
Remember  you  not  the  first  charter  1  While  the  Baptist  college  was  yet 
in  emhvyo  they  very  disingenuously  opposed  it,  as  such,  and  contrived  to 
make  it  their  own  ;  since  which  disappointment  Dr.  Stiles  would  have 
nothing  to  do  with  it,  though  courted  again  and  again  to  accept  even  a 
fellowship  therein.  And  when  the  present  charter  was  presented  to  the 
Assembly  at  South  Kingston,  remember  you  not  what  clamor  they  raised 
against  it  there  ?  And  Avhat  stout  opposition  they  made  to  the  passage 
of  it,  insomuch  that  its  friends  thought  it  best  to  desist  ?  And  how  they 
triumphed  afterwards  ?  And  when  the  affair  was  brought  on  again  at 
East  Greenwich,  the  next  session,  you  can  never  forget  with  what  heat 
and  coarse  expression  the  same  oppositions  were  renewed,  nor  the  morti 
fication  and  murmurings  which  the  passing  of  it  occasioned.  It  is  true, 
while  the  charter  lay  dormant  they  remained  easy,  and,  as  you  say,  appeared 
well  pleased  when  you  had  set  it  on  foot  at  Warren.  But  the  reason  of 
that  is  obvious.  They  knew  that  while  the  college  stood  friendless  and 
moneyless,  as  it  then  did,  they  should  have  the  pleasure  to  see  it  fall,  and 
to  mock  those  who  began  to  build  a  tower  and  were  not  able  to  finish  it. 
But  seemed  they  good-humored  when  money  came  thither  from  Europe  ? 
or  did  they  look  as  the  man  of  Bristol  did,  at  your  first  Commencement, 
and  put  the  same  invidious  construction  upon  everything  that  he  did  on 
the  complaisance  you  showed  him  that  day  ?  Their  good  affection  toward 
the  college  edifice  was  but  varnish  ;  for  while  with  specious  arguments 
they  would  have  it  here,  and  anon  there,  and  then  in  another  place,  they 
were  only  working  to  prevent  it  being  anywhere ;  and  soon  as  it  had  a 
locality  and  the  beginning  of  its  existence,  at  Providence,  did  they  not, 
with  some  misled  Baptists,  attempt  to  get  another  college,  to  destroy 
yours,  and  actually  carried  their  design  through  the  lower  house  ?  This 
also  failing,  what  remains  but  to  prevent  youth  from  resorting  to  it  ?  Their 
slandering  the  officers  of  instruction,  as  insufficient ;  the  town  where  it  is 


192  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  IV. 

in,  as  a  lawless  place  ;  the  college,  as  wanting  government ;  their  repre 
senting  it  as  a  nest  of  Anabaptists,  calculated  to  make  proselytes ;  their 
visiting  grammar  schools  and  tampering  with  masters  and  parents  ;  their 
scolding  Presbyterian  youth  when  they  enter  with  you,  as  your  neighbor 
Eowley  did,  who  is  capable  of  nothing  but  what  is  gross  and  indelicate ; 
their  refusing  to  pay  their  subscriptions,  etc.,  — are  all  intended  to  hurt 
what  they  could  neither  prevent  nor  destroy.  Think  you  that  their  pres 
ent  opposition  to  the  college  is  the  effect  of  those  newspaper  complaints 
and  threatenings  of  Presbyterian  oppression  in  New  England  ?  Why, 
then,  did  they  oppose  it  before  those  complaints  and  threatenings  had  ex 
istence1?  .Think  you  they  will  be  friends  should  we  desist  from  these 
complaints  and  court  their  favor  ?  It  cannot  be,  except  God  should  once 
teach  them  to  love  their  neighbors  as  themselves,  and  do  as  they  would 
be  done  by.  Destroying  the  Baptist  college  will  pacify  them,  and  noth 
ing  else.  The  existence  of  that  on  the  hill  of  Providence  is  a  Mordecai 
in  the  gate.  I  told  you,  long  "ago,  that  if  you  could  not  do  without  the 
Presbyterians,  you  could  not  do  at  all.  I  need  not  inform  you  that  I  deal 
in  generals.  I  except  the  honest,  the  trusty,  and  the  good,  and  some  such 
Presbyterians  I  have  met  with,  in  their  connections  with  this  college. 
God  send  us  more,  and  mend  the  rest." 

These  ecclesiastical  oppressions,  and  this  sectarian  bit 
terness  towards  the  college,  have  all  passed  away,  and  are 
now  forgotten  ;  if  occasionally  recalled  to  remembrance, 
it  is  only  in  the  spirit  of  kindness,  as  impressive  admoni 
tions  to  the  fuller  exercise  of  that  charity  which  "beareth 
all  things."  As  matters  of  history,  they  must  of  necessity 
appear  conspicuous  in  any  faithful  account  of  the  life  and 
correspondence  of  Manning.  They  unveil,  it  is  true, 
scenes  of  intolerance  and  persecution,  which  the  enemies 
of  religion  may  view  with  impious  delight.  On  this  point 
we  may  be  allowed  to  quote  the  remarks  of  Professor 
Knowles,  in"  his  preface  to  the  Memoir  of  Roger  Williams. 
"We  must  not,"  he  says,  "in  order  to  promote  or  defend 
religion,  attempt  to  conceal  events  which  history  has 
already  recorded,  and  much  less  to  palliate  conduct  which 


1770-1773.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  193 

we  cannot  justify.  Let  us  rather  confess,  with  frankness 
and  humility,  our  own  faults,  and  those  of  our  fathers ; 
learn  wisdom  from  past  errors ;  and  bring  ourselves  and 
others,  as  speedily  as  possible,  to  the  adoption  of  those 
pure  principles  by  which  alone  Christianity  can  be  sus 
tained  and  diffused.  The  book  of  God  records,  among  its 
salutary  lessons,  the  mistakes  and  sins  of  good  men." 

On  Wednesday,  Sept.  4,  1771,  was  celebrated  the  third 
anniversary  Commencement,  at  which  six  young  men  took 
their  Bachelor  degrees.  From  the  account  of  this  Com 
mencement  in  the  Providence  Gazette,  we  present  an  ab 
stract  of  the  President's  address :  — 

"  A  concise,  pertinent  charge  was  then  delivered  to  the  graduates,  by 
the  President ;  in  which,  besides  many  useful  instructions  and  cautions, 
he  remarked  that  this  institution,  though  liberal  and  catholic  in  its  foun 
dation  and  government,  despising  the  contracted  views  of  a  party,  aim 
ing  at  the  good  of  mankind  in  general,  and  always  studious  to  maintain  a 
good  agreement  and  harmony  with  others  of  the  like  nature,  had  not  been 
so  happy  as  to  pass  altogether  without  censure  ;  and  that  not  only  from 
the  ignorant  and  pedantic,  but  even  from  some  of  those  whose  friendship 
it  has  sought,  and  would  highly  esteem,  could  it  consistently  be  obtained. 
He  concluded  by  requesting  their  friendship  and  kind  offices  to  that  semin 
ary  of  learning  in  which  they  had  received  their  education  ;  and  with 
great  energy  exhorted  them  that  if  they  could  not,  by  their  joint  testimony 
of  the  generous,  free,  and  impartial  manner  in  which  they  had  been  treated 
in  the  course  of  their  studies,  silence  the  unreasonable  clamors  of  igno 
rance  and  enmity,  to  give  the  world  the  same  kind  of  proof  of  the  useful 
ness  of  the  institution  which  some  of  its  first  sons  now  do,  who  fill  public 
stations  with  honor  to  themselves  and  advantage  to  mankind." 

Among  the  graduates  this  year  was  Samuel  Ward,  son 
of  Governor  Ward,  who,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  com 
manded  a  company,  under  Arnold,  through  the  wilderness 
of  Maine  to  Quebec.  He  served  with  reputation  in  the 
army  during  the  Revolutionary  War,  attaining  to  the 
17 


194  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IV. 

rank  of  lieutenant-colonel.  Another  graduate  was  Thomas 
Ustick,  who  was  for  many  years  the  esteemed  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  church  in  Philadelphia,  having  succeeded  the  Rev. 
Dr.  William  Rogers. 

The  following  letter,  addressed  to  Thomas  Llewelyn, 
LL.D.,  presents  an  idea  of  the  condition  and  prospects  of 
the  college,  and  especially  of  the  library,  at  this  time.  It 
affords  an  illustration  of  the  author's  skill  in  urcfmsr  the 

O        O 

claims  of  the  institution  over  which  he  presided  upon  the 
attention  of  strangers  of  reputed  benevolence  and  wealth. 
Mr.  Llewelyn  was  a  distinguished  Cambro-British  scholar 
of  London.  He  published,  in  1768,  a  History  of  the  Welsh 
Versions  of  the  Bible,  and,  in  the  following  year,  "  Histor 
ical  and  Critical  Remarks  on  the  British  Tongue."  He 
died  on  the  7th  of  August,  1783,  bequeathing  to  the  Bris 
tol  Academy,  where  he  pursued  his  early  studies,  his  large 
and  valuable  library.  Dr.  Gibbons  was  accustomed,  says 
Rippon,  to  speak  of  him  "  as  the  first  scholar  among  the 
Protestant  Dissenters." 

PROVIDENCE,  Feb.  21,  1772. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

I  am  emboldened  to  address  you,  both  from  the  recommendation  of 
Dr.  Stcnnett  to  do  so,  and  from  my  knowledge  of  your  friendship  to  the 
college  in  this  town,  of  which  you  would  doubtless  be  glad  to  know  the 
state. 

The  college  edifice  is  erected  on  a  most  beautiful  eminence,  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  Providence,  commanding  a  most  charming  and  variegated 
prospect ;  a  large,  neat  brick  building,  and  so  far  completed  as  to  receive 
the  students,  who  now  reside  there,  the  whole  number  of  whom  is  twenty- 
two.  We  have  the  prospect  of  further  additions;  yet  our  numbers  will 
probably  be  small  until  we  are  better  fm-nished  with  a  library  and  philo 
sophical  apparatus.  At  present  we  have  but  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
volumes,  and  these  not  well  chosen,  being  such  as  our  friends  could  best 
spare.  Our  apparatus  consists  of  a  pair  of  globes,  two  microscopes,  and 
an  electrical  machine  ;  to  this  we  are  desirous  of  making  the  addition  of 


1770-1773.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  195 

an  air  pump,  if  one  reputable  can  "be  purchased  for  £22  10s.  sterling;  a 
sum  which  two  young  men  informed  me  they  intended  to  give  towards  an 
apparatus  or  library.  If,  therefore,  it  would  not  be  too  much  trouble  to 
inform  me  whether  or  not  that  sum  is  sufficient,  I  shall  receive  it  as  a 
particular  favor ;  for  if  not,  we  shall  appropriate  it  to  some  other  use. 

Our  whole  college  fund  consists  of  about  £900  sterling,  being  the 
whole  sum  collected  abroad  ;  for  no  money  collected  without  the  colony 
is  made  use  of  in  the  building,  but  solely  applied  to  endowing  it,  with  the 
strictest  regard  to  the  donor's  intent.  The  interest  of  this  sum  is  quite 
insufficient  to  provide  for  tuition,  as  two  of  us  are  now  employed,  and  we 
stand  in  need  of  further  help.  May  we  not  expect  some  further  assistance 
from  our  friends  in  England1?  or  must  we  conclude  that  the  Baptists, 
only,  are  inattentive,  to  their  own  cause,  while  seminaries  of  other  denom 
inations  have  the  highest  reason  to  extol  their  generosity?  or  is  it  be 
cause  we  use  less  industry  to  promote  our  common  cause  than  others  ? 
If  so,  what  might  another  personal  application  to  England  do  on  this 
head,  could  we  find  a  person  among  us,  of  public  spirit,  who  could  forego 
the  mortification  of  a  beggar,  etc.  ?  Mr.  Edwards  happened  in  England 
at  a  most  unfavorable  juncture,  or  we  should  have  expected  far  better 
success.  If  you  imagine  anything  considerable  can  be  done,  we  shall 
strive  hard  to  obtain  some  person  for  this  purpose ;  if  not,  permit  me  to 
solicit  your  interest,  where  you  may  be  able  to  serve  the  cause.  We  have 
had  the  earliest  proofs  of  your  regard  for  the  infant  college,  and  retain  a 
grateful  sense  of  your  unsought  favors. 

I  shall  take  pleasure  in  communicating  any  intelligence  in  my  power, 
whenever  you  please  to  lay  your  commands.  My  present  situation  is 
such  as  will  furnish  me  with  a  general  acquaintance  with  the  state  of  the 
Baptist  society  in  America,  especially  as  I  have  travelled  through  the 
greatest  part,  and  hold  correspondence  with  some  in  almost  all  the  prov 
inces. 

The  ship  by  which  this  comes  is  bound  directly  back  to  Providence ;  and 
being  owned  by  a  zealous  friend  of  the  college,  any  books,  or  other  things, 
should  there  be  anything  to  send  from  any  of  our  friends,  would  not  only 
come  directly,  but  free  from  the  expense  which  might  otherwise  attend 
them. 

The  jealous  eye  with  which  other  denominations  of  Christians  behold 
this  infant  seminary  leaves  us  without  hope  of  any  assistance  from  any 
but  Baptists  ;  and  I  think  if  we  could  but  unite,  and  the  whole  body  lend 
a  helping  hand,  we  should  be  able,  without  great  difficulty,  to  rear  the 


196  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  IV. 

tender  plant  to  a  degree  of  maturity  which  might  greatly  subserve  the 
cause  of  religion,  especially  in  our  society. 

Craving  your  indulgence  for  giving  you  this  interruption,  and  sincerely 
wishing  you  every  felicity  in  this  and  a  future  world,  I  remain,  dear  sir, 
Your  unworthy  brother  and  servant  in  the  gospel, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

TO   THE   REV.   JOH1ST   RYLAND. 

PROVIDENCE,  May  19,  1772. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

On  the  5th  ult.  I  received  your  letter,  as  I  judged  from  the  contents, 
for  it  had  neither  your  name  nor  any  date  to  it.  The  contents  gave  me 
very  great  pleasure  on  various  accounts,  —  as  a  testimony  of  your  regard 
for  me,  the  college,  and  the  cause  of  religion  in  general,  and  especially 
for  the  zeal  you  discover  in  promoting  the  Baptist  interests.  The  list  of 
names  you  sent  me  shall  be  laid  before  the  Faculty  next  September,  and 
without  doubt  they  will  receive  the  honors  of  the  college.  We  shall  also 
be  obliged  to  you  for  your  proposed  favor  of  sending  us  some  names  every 
year,  and  such,  too,  as  are  worthy  of  honor.  I  saw  a  paragraph  in  a 
letter  to  Rev.  Isaac  Backus,  from  Rev.  Benjamin  Wallin,  of  London,  in 
which  he  intimated  we  had  conferred  degrees  on  some  on  your  side  of 
the  water  who  would  not  do  us  honor.  I  shall  therefore  rely  on  you  to 
pay  particular  regard  to  the  literary  qualifications  of  those  whom  you  rec 
ommend,  in  order  that  our  enemies  may  not  have  it  in  their  power  to  re 
proach  us  on  this  head.  I  thank  you  for  the  hint  given  me  concerning  the 
number  of  our  ministers  and  churches  in  Britain,  and  your  offer  of  send 
ing  me  a  short  account  of  them,  which  I  have  not  seen.  If  there  should 
be  more  than  one  on  hand,  it  would  gratify  some  of  our  friends  if  I  could 
supply  them.  The  present  of  the  volume  of  poems  will  be  very  accepta 
ble.  Please  to  give  my  cordial  love  to  the  author,  of  whom  I  shall  be 
mindful  amongst  others  who  deserve  the  honors  of  the  college.  I  hope 
you  will  be  happy  in  seeing  him  not  only  a  faithful  but  successful  laborer 
in  Christ's  vineyard.  You  may  assure  yourself  that  I  will  contribute  all 
in  my  power  to  assist  in  "rousing  the  sluggards,"  etc.  If  the  Presbyte 
rians  have  let  go  the  faith,  I  hope  it  is  to  promote  the  primitive  ordinances 
of  the  gospel  under  the  direction  of  a  wise  Providence.  I  think  this  has 
been  and  now  is  the  case  in  New  England  ;  for  many  of  the  good  peo 
ple  are  following  Christ  into  the  water,  who  before  quieted  their  con 
sciences  by  the  example  of  the  fathers  now  with  God ;  but  they  cannot  find 


1770-1773. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  197 


the  same  reason  when  they  view  the  clergy  of  the  present  age.  In  short,  if 
you  hear  of  a  work  of  God's  Spirit  among  the  Presbyterians  of  New  Eng 
land,  you  will  soon  hear  that  a  Baptist  minister  is  applied  to  to  baptize 
them.  God  has  been  and  is  still  doing  marvellous  things,  in  the  outpour 
ing  of  his  Spirit  on  some  of  our  churches ;  especially  in  Boston,  Dighton, 
Rhehoboth,  Swanzey,  in  the  Bay  Government,  and  in  Warren,  of  this 
colony, under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Charles  Thompson,  one  of  the  first  class 
that  graduated  at  this  college.  I  am  told  that  near  three  hundred  have 
been  baptized  in  these  places  since  last  September.  Mr.  William  Rogers, 
a  member  also  of  the  same  class,  about  twenty-one  years  of  age,  has  been 
called  to  the  ministry,  and  is  preaching  in  Philadelphia,  where  God  ap 
pears  to  own  his  labors  to  admiration.  He  is  a  pious,  warm  Christian, 
and  a  very  popular  preacher  in  that  city.  All  these  things  encourage  me 
to  believe  that  God  regards  this  college  with  a  favorable  eye ;  especially 
as  I  have  reason  to  hope  that  he  has  called  by  grace  some  who  are  now  in 
college,  since  they  came  here,  while  others  appear  to  be  hopefully  anxious 
about  their  salvation. 

I  shall  make  free  to  draw  on  you  again  the  1st  of  June,  by  Mr.  Edwards's 
instruction,  and  continue  to  do  so  yearly  until  you  forbid  me.  What 
think  you  of  an  application  to  England,  by  some  suitable  person,  in  order 
to  augment  our  little  and  insufficient  fund,  as  Mr.  Edwards  made  but  a 
partial  application ;  or  would  a  well-concerted  scheme  of  a  lottery  1  to  raise 
£1000  or  £2000  sterling  meet  with  encouragement  by  the  sale  of  tickets 
in  England  ?  Some  method  must  be  adopted,  unless  some  generous,  able 
benefactors  should  arise  to  assist  us.  I  shall  write  frequently  and  long ; 
and  if  you  will  do  the  same  to  me,  you  will  greatly  oblige, 

Yours,  etc., 

JAMES  MANNING. 

1  Suggested  perhaps  by  Mr.  Manning's  familiarity  with  the  history  of  the  Col 
lege  of  New  Jersey,  the  funds  of  which  institution  had  been  increased  by  lot 
teries  which  the  legislatures  of  Connecticut,  Pennsylvania,  and  New  Jersey  had 
granted  for  this  purpose.  Harvard  and  Yale  Colleges,  it  may  be  added,  were 
also  aided  by  lotteries,  the  former  even  as  recently  as  the  year  1808.  To  show 
how  common  were  lotteries  in  Rhode  Island  at  this  time,  it  may  be  stated,  that, 
in  the  space  of  twenty-seven  years,  from  1752  to  1779,  no  less  than  fifty-four  were 
granted  by  the  General  Assembly  for  the  building  of  churches,  parsonages, 
schoolhouses,  bridges,  streets,  wharves,  etc.,  as  we  find  by  looking  over  the  "  Co 
lonial  llecords." 

For  a  very  interesting  account  of  lotteries  in  behalf  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hopkins's 
church  in  Newport,  the  reader  is  referred  to  Prof.  Park's  Memoir  of  the  Life 
and  Character  of  Dr.  Hopkins,  pp.  113, 114. 
17* 


198  MANN  ING    AND  CHAP.  IV. 

From  the  following  notice,  which  was  published  in  the 
Providence  Gazette,  it  appears  that  President  Manning 
still  retained  charge  of  the  Latin  school,  it  being  without 
doubt  the  same  which  he  commenced  at  Warren  eight 
years  previous  to  this  date.  Thus,  in  addition  to  his  labors 
as  pastor  of  the  church  and  President  of  the  college,  he 
was  engaged  in  teaching  lads,  directly  or  otherwise,  the 
elements  of  knowledge,  and  in  furnishing  them,  as  also  the 
college  students,  with  school  books,  "  at  the  lowest  rate." 


Whereas  several  gentlemen  have  requested  me  to  take  and  educate  then- 
sons,  this  may  inform  them,  and  others^  disposed  to  put  their  children 
under  my  care,  that  the  Latin  school 1  is  now  removed,  and  set  up  in  the 
college  edifice ;  where  proper  attention  shall  be  given,  by  a  master  duly 
qualified,  and  those  found  to  be  the  most  effectual  methods  to  obtain  a 
competent  knowledge  of  grammar,  steadily  pursued.  At  the  same  time, 
spelling,  reading,  and  speaking  English  with  propriety,  will  be  particularly 
attended  to.  Any  who  choose  their  sons  should  board  in  commons,  may 
be  accommodated  at  the  same  rate  with  the  students,  —  six  shillings  per 
week  being  the  price.  And  I  flatter  myself  that  such  attention  will  be 
paid  to  their  learning  and  morals  as  will  entirely  satisfy  all  who  may  send 
their  children.  All  books  for  the  school,  as  well  as  the  classical  authors 
read  in  college,  may  be  had,  at  the  lowest  rate,  of  the  subscriber. 

JAMES  MANNING. 

PROVIDENCE,  July  10,  1772. 


1  Where  the  Latin  school  was  kept  previous  to  this  date  we  cannot  positively 
state;  it  is,  however,  more  than  probable  that  it  was  in  one  of  the  chambers  of 
the  brick  schoolhouse  on  Meeting  Street.  The  other  chamber,  as  lias  already 
been  stated,  was  occupied  by  the  oilicers  and  students  of  the  college.  This 
schoolhouse,  as  appears  from  Staples's  Annals  of  Providence,  was  built  during 
the  year  17G8,  partly  by  the  town,  and  partly  by  subscription.  By  this  compound 
arrangement  the  town  owned  the  lower  story,  while  the  upper  story  was  owned 
by  the  subscribers,  among  whom  the  friends  and  guardians  of  the  college  were 
largely  represented.  As  we  have  remarked  in  a  previous  chapter,  this  school, 
commenced  by  Manning  at  Warren  in  17G4,  was  for  a  long  time  connected  with 
the  college  or  university.  In  1810  the  corporation  erected  a  brick  building  for 
its  accommodation,  at  an  expense  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars. 


1770-1773.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  109 

The  following  letter,  addressed  to  Mr.  Ryland,  under 
date  of  Nov.  12, 1772,  gives  an  account  of  the  greatest  do 
nation  the  library  had  at  that  time  received  ;  namely,  the 
works  of  Dr.  Gill  the  distinguished  commentator,  and  fifty- 
two  folio  volumes  of  the  Fathers,  presented  through  Dr. 
Gill's  executors.  From  this  letter  we  also  learn  the  inter 
esting  fact  that  Manning's  salary  as  President  of  the  col 
lege  was  a  little  less  than  £G8  sterling,  or  about  three 
hundred  and  forty  dollars.  His  salary  as  pastor  of  the 
church,  according  to  Morgan  Edwards,  was  £50.  Whether 
this  was  £50  sterling  or  lawful  money  we  cannot  tell; 
probably  the  latter.  This  would  make  the  sum  total  of 
compensation  for  all  his  services  about  five  hundred  dol 
lars. 

REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

I  have  not  received  an  answer  to  mine  of  May  19th,  1772,  yet  am  not 
willing  to  let  this  opportunity  pass  without  a  line.  The  Faculty  conferred 
the  degree  of  A.M.,  at  our  last  Commencement,  on  your  son,  the  Rev. 
John  Ryland,  Jun. ;  but  through  my  hurry,  and  absence  from  home  since 
Commencement,  I  have  not  got  his  diploma  written,  and  must  therefore 
omit  sending  it  until  my  next.  Those  other  gentlemen  you  mentioned 
did  not  receive  their  degrees ;  the  Faculty  chose  to  know  whether  they 
have  been  consulted  personally,  and  wish  to  receive  the  honors  of  our 
college ;  otherwise  it  might  do  us  hurt  instead  of  service.  What  sug 
gested  this  reflection,  in  part,  was  a  paragraph  in  a  letter  from  Mr.  Wallin 
of  London  to  Mr.  Backus,  which  I  saw,  in  which  he  seemed  to  insinuate 
that  we  had  been  too  lavish  of  our  honors.  If  these  gentlemen  would  ac 
cept  diplomas  from  us,  we  should  give  them  with  pleasure ;  but  we  do  not 
choose  to  give  them  to  those  who  would  not  thank  us  for  them,  as  I 
think  has  been  the  case  with  some  even  on  your  side  of  the  water. 

With  this  I  send  you  a  catalogue  of  those  who  have  received  the  hon 
ors  of  the  college  from  the  first.  Our  last  Commencement,  I  believe,  ac 
quired  us  considerable  reputation  amongst  the  literati  in  New  England  ; 
and  had  we  not  to  combat  with  the  inveterate  enmity  of  the  New  England 
clergy,  it  would  have  added  to  the  number  of  our  scholars  ;  but  they  take 


200  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IV. 

unwearied  pains  to  prevent  any  from  coming  if  possible,  and  do  not  stick 
at  the  method  of  carrying  their  points ;  but,  thank  God,  they  don't  govern 
the  world. 

Last  month  I  returned  from  a  journey  through  the  western  provinces, 
as  far  as  Philadelphia.  I  found  religion  at  an  ebb  in  those  churches  in 
general,  as  is  the  case  through  the  most  of  New  England.  Virginia  is  still 
in  a  flame,  and  hundreds  are  hopefully  turning  to  God.  I  attended  the 
Association  at  New  York,  and  we  had  a  very  comfortable  season.  I  here 
with  send  you  an  Association  letter. 

I  should  be  glad  to  know  in  what  sense  you  give  the  five  guineas 
which  I  have  been  directed  to  call  upon  you  for  annually.  The  reason 
is  this  :  I  have  always  rendered  an  account  of  it  to  the  corporation  as  a 
part  of  my  salary  from  the  college,  which  is  £67  13s.  4d.  sterling,  annu 
ally,  and  some  of  the  members  have  found  fault  with  me  for  so  doing, 
alleging  that,  as  my  salary  is  inadequate,  I  ought  to  consider  it  as  a  free 
gift,  or  so  much  over  the  above  sum  ;  but  this  I  would  by  no  means  do 
without  an  explicit  account  of  your  intention  in  the  donation,  according 
to  which  I  shall  be  governed,  and  therefore  I  pray  you  to  resolve  me  in 
this  matter. 

By  the  last  ship  we  received  the  works  of  the  great  and  good  Dr.  Gill, 
with  fifty-two  folio  volumes  of  the  Fathers,  etc.,  the  gift  of  Messrs.  George 
Keith  and  John  Gill,  the  Doctor's  executors.  This  is  by  far  the  greatest 
donation  our  little  library  has  yet  had  ;  but  I  hope  their  generous  example 
will  be  followed  by  others  on  your  side  of  the  Atlantic.  Do  you  think  it 
would  be  worth  while  for  an  American  Indian,  as  we  are  generally  deemed, 
to  visit  England,  on  the  errand  of  collecting  some  more  money  for  our 
college  ?  Eor  we  really  need  it.  I  have  been  mentioned,  if  my  place  in 
the  interim  could  be  supplied,  for  this  purpose,  provided  the  prospect 
promised  anything  worth  while.  But  the  inattention  of  the  Baptists  to 
their  own  interests  disheartens  me  greatly. 

I  have  written  tAvo  letters  to  Dr.  Stennett  since  I  have  had  an  answer, 
and  I  am  afraid  I  have  tired  that  good  man  with  my  nonsense,  and 
that  my  letters  have  been  mislaid  or  intercepted.  Pray,  have  you  heard 
of  the  Doctor's  being  addressed  by  Dr.  Chauncey,  of  Boston,  with  a 
design  to  alienate  him  from  the  cause  of  the  New  England  Baptists,  by 
sending  him  reproachful  accounts  of  them  ?  I  was  told  by  one  of  our 
brethren  this  was  suspected  to  be  the  case,  from  some  extraordinary  steps 
taken  by  that  society.  If  that  should  be  the  case  I  should  be  glad  to 
know ;  and  if  you  are  intimate  with  the  Doctor,  you  may  probably  know 


1770-1773.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  201 

through  him.     A  minister  of  reputation  gave  me  this  hint  but  a  few  days 
past,  or  I  would  not  have  mentioned  it,  supposing  them  incapable  of  so 
low  an  artifice.     I  am  told  another l  of  my  first  class  is  to  preach  on  trial 
next  Lord's  Day,  which  will  make  three  of  that  class  in  the  ministry. 
With  great  respect,  I  am,  sir,  yours  to  serve, 

JAMES  MANNING. 


KYLAND  S     REPLY. 

NORTHAMPTON,  Feb.  9,  1773. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

I  have  enclosed  a  few  hints  for  your  notice  and  consideration.  If  they 
are  of  any  service  to  you,  or  to  the  cause  of  religion  and  to  your  college 
of  learning,  I  shall  be  glad. 

I  have,  in  the  midst  of  the  cares  of  a  family  of  about  sixty  persons, 
thrown  out  some  thoughts  concerning  matters  before  us  ;  and  as  you  know 
I  bear  you  a  hearty  good-will,  I  am  not  in  any  pain  how  you  may  re 
ceive  and  relish  them.  If  you  are  that  man  of  sense  and  honor  I  con 
ceive  you  to  be,  you  will  like  my  blunt  friendship  better  than  drivelling 
flattery  and  nauseous  palaver.  (  Verba  sit  nenia  ;  for  it  is  not  in  Dr.  Sam. 
Johnson's  Dictionary.) 

I  have  filled  a  whole  sheet  of  post-demy  paper,  so  that  you  have  rough 
and  enough.  The  pamphlets  and  sheets  which  accompany  this  are  a 
present  to  yourself,  unless  you  think  it  worth  while  to  put  them  in  your 
college  library,  or  in  the  fire,  just  as  you  please. 

If  you  like  my  mode  of  correspondence,  and  take  everything  in  good 
part,  I  shall  soon  hear  from  you.  I  am  to  you,  and  to  the  interests  of 
religion  and  learning  under  your  care, 

A  hearty  and  zealous  friend, 

JOHN  RYLAND. 


1.  In  January,  1772, 1  sent  a  box  of  twenty -five  books  to  the  Rev.  Mor 
gan  Edwards,  at  Philadelphia,  by  the  favor  and  care  of  Mr.  Daniel  Rob- 
erdean,  merchant,  who  was  then  in  London,  and  abode  at  my  old  lodgings, 
Mrs.  Stephens's,  No.  11,  in  Great  St.  Hellen's ;  and  was  about  to  return 

1  The  Rev.  William  Williams. 


MANNING  AND  CHAP.  IV. 

to  America.  In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Edwards  I  desired  him  to  present  some 
of  those  books  to  Rhode  Island  College,  but  have  heard  nothing  from  him, 
nor  have  you  mentioned  one  word  about  the  books. 

2.  Mr.  Wallin  had  no  right  to  reproach  your  college  as  being  too  lavish 
of  its  honors,  unless  he  meant  himself,  and  himself  only. 

3.  For  me  to  ask  any  of  those  gentlemen  I  nominated  in  my  letter, 
whether  he  would  please  to  accept  of  a  degree  from  your  college,  would 
spoil  all  the  honor  and  delicacy  of  conferring  it.     Its  coming  unsought,  yea 
unthought  of,  constitutes  its  chief  excellence  and  acceptableness  to  men  of 
fine  feelings.     For  my  own  part,  I  would  not  have  given  you  a  single 
farthing,  or  so  much  as  a  thanks,  for  a  feather,  if  I  had  it  not  in  my  power 
with  the  utmost  truth  to  say,  "I  neither  sought  it,  nor  bought  it,  nor 
thought  for  a  moment  about  it "  (Dr.  Gill's  saying  on  having  his  diploma 
from  Scotland). 

4.  By  your  withholding  these  honors  from  the  men  I  so  well  knew  to 
deserve  them,  and  not  one  would  have  refused  them,  you  have  done  your 
college  damage  in  its  temporal  interests.     My  design  was  to  serve  you  by 
attaching  men  of  grace,  learning,  property,  and  influence  to  you.     But  if 
you  do  not  choose  it  in  my  way,  it  shall  be  let  alone ;  for  I  assure  you  I 
never  will  ask  one  man  whilst  I  live  to  accept  of  a  degree. 

I  could  find  men  enough  in  Britain  that  have  learning  sufficient,  who 
would  snap  at  your  honors  for  the  sake  of  some  low  ends  and  purposes ; 
but  their  characters  as  divines,  or  their  capacity  or  will  to  serve  you,  is 
nothing.  In  truth,  I  keep  no  such  company.  I  form  no  connection  with 
them,  nor  will  I  whilst  I  live.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Rev.  Augustus  Top- 
lady  is  the  first  divine  of  the  Established  Church,  or  indeed  of  any  church 
in  England  or  in  Europe.  He  is  a  man  of  fortune,  of  high  genius,  and 
learning.  He  is  my  intimate  friend;  and  let  me  tell  you,  as  a  secret,  of  a 
mark  of  his  regard  for  me.  He  put  it  to  my  choice,  in  case  of  his  death 
before  me,  which  part  of  his  library  I  would  have,  the  English,  or  the 
Latin  and  learned  part.  I  chose  the  latter,  and  it  is  accordingly  fixed. 
But  I  hope  I  shall  never  have  the  pain  to  accept  them.  He  is  a  man  of  a 
prodigiously  high  spirit  by  nature,  but  'tis  so  tempered  and  moderated  by 
grace,  and  a  noble  and  generous  disposition,  as  renders  him  one  of  the 
boldest  champions  for  the  sublime  truths  of  the  gospel  in  the  world.  We 
have  no  writer  amongst  all  our  divines  that  comes  near  to  him  in  energy 
and  grandeur  of  thought,  rich  and  daring  imagination,  masculine  judg 
ment,  and  glowing  colors  of  style.  lie  is  about  twenty-nine  or  thirty 
years  old,  but  has  been  educated,  from  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  all  the  grand 


1770-1773.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  203 

essentials  of  the  gospel.  He  had  his  classical  education  at  Westminster 
School,  and  his  academical  at  the  University  of  Dublin  ;  owing  to  an  es 
tate  falling  to  his  mother  in  Ireland,  and  she  being  obliged  to  go  over  and 
possess  it,  she  took  her  only  .son,  at  sixteen,  with  her.  Dr.  Thos.  Leland 
was  his  tutor.  But  he  had  the  good  sense  and  piety  to  go  to  the  Baptist 
meeting  on  Lord's  Days  to  hear  an  able  preacher,  now  dead,  his  name 
Rutherford ;  and  every  year,  when  Mr.  Toplady  came  over  to  England,  he 
had  the  boldness  and  wisdom  to  sit  under  the  stated  ministry  of  Dr.  Gill. 
He  is  a  generous  friend  to  Dissenters,  especially  to  us  poor  Baptists.  He 
commenced  A.B.  at  Dublin.  He  scorns  all  honors,  unless  conferred  like 
grace  from  heaven,  —  "  unthought  of,  unimplored." 

My  other  friends  are  of  the  same  complexion  ;  therefore  I  will  never  ask 
one  of  them  to  accept  of  a  feather  from  your  college.  Mr.  Isaac  Wood 
man,  of  Sutton  in  Leicestershire,  is  a  prince  in  his  spirit  and  conduct.  He 
is  the  father  of  our  Midland  Association,  and  a  wise  counsellor  to  us  all. 
He  has  such  a  degree  of  modesty  that  he  will  not  wear  the  feather  you 
sent  him,  and  wishes  not  to  have  it  known  on  this  side  of  the  water.  But 
what  then  ?  Has  he  done  you  any  damage  or  dishonor  ?  No.  All  that 
know  him  will  revere  him  as  a  man  of  wisdom,  benevolence,  and  learning 
in  the  Greek  language  and  philosophy.  As  to  damage,  I  will  tell  you. 
He  is  a  man  of  substance,  and  has  a  fine  library  ;  he  has  no  children ;  and 
you  will  have  half,  if  not  the  whole,  for  your  college  when  he  dies.  Will 
this  hurt  you  ?  Perhaps  some  money  into  the  bargain.  And  thus  I  should 
have  attached  others  to  your  interests  ;  but  you  would  not  let  me,  in  your 
wisdom.  Just  as  if  you  knew  men  here  better  than  I  do,  who  have  lived 
forty  years  amongst  them.  As  to  the  five  guineas  I  pay  every  year,  'tis 
for  yourself  and  nobody  else.  'Tis  because  I  like  your  character,  spirit, 
and  principles.  If  you  die,  and  another  succeed  you  whom  I  should  not 
approve,  I  will  stop  my  hand. 

As  to  raising  money  by  a  lottery,  I  dislike  it  from  the  bottom  of  my 
heart.  'Tis  a  scheme  dishonorable  to  the  supreme  Head  of  all  worlds 
and  of  the  true  church.  We  have  our  fill  of  these  cursed  gambling  lot 
teries  in  London  every  year.  They  are  big  with  ten  thousand  evils.  Let 
the  devil's  children  have  them  all  to  themselves.  Let  us  not  touch  or 
taste. 

I  sent  two  books  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stillman,  at  Boston,  last  summer,  by 
Mr.  Story,  of  Boston.  One  of  the  books  is  a  present  to  the  library  of  your 
college.  It  is  entitled  "  An  Easy  Introduction  to  Sir  Isaac  Newton's 
Philosophy."  It  was  written  by  one  of  the  clearest  and  most  condescend- 


204  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IV. 

ing-  good-natured  philosophers  in  the  world  for  the  use  of  my  school,  Mr. 
James  Ferguson,  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society.  'Tis  adapted  to  your 
school-boys  and  junior  students,  to  prepare  them  for  larger  treatises  on  the 
same  subjects.  I  should  be  glad  to  find  it  meet  with  the  approbation  of 
your  learned  Professor  of  Philosophy. 

Agreeably  to  Byland's  suggestion,  the  college  the  fol 
lowing  year  conferred  on  the  Rev.  Augustus  Toplady  the 
honorary  degree  of  A.M.  Mr.  Toplacly's  works  have  been 
published  in  six  octavo  volumes,  with  an  account  of  his 
life.  To  the  Christian  public  he  is  known  as  the  author 
of  "Rock  of  ages  cleft  for  me,"  and  "Deathless  spirit,  now 
arise,"  regarded  by  many  as  two  of  the  finest  hymns  in  the 
English  language. 

TO    THE    KEV.    DR.    STENNETT. 

„  PROVIDENCE,  Nov.  13,  1772. 

REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

As  I  have  sent  two  or  three  letters  since  receiving  one  from  you,  I  should 
not  now  write,  as  I  have  nothing  of  importance  to  communicate,  had 
not  the  Rev.  Isaac  Backus,  of  Middleborough,  requested  me,  on  the  follow 
ing  account:  He  has  been  up  to  Ashficld  not  long  since,  and  found  that 
the  Congregational  clergy  there,  as  well  as  elsewhere,  have  been  very  busy 
in  collecting  all  the  scandalous  reports  they  can  hear  of ;  and  as  they  think, 
from  some  circumstances,  sending  them  to  Dr.  Chaunccy,  of  Boston,  in 
order  to  transmit  the  same  to  you,  to  prevent  you  from  interesting  your 
self  in  their  cause.  I  confess  this  is  a  suggestion  which  would  seem  to 
flow  from  a  bad  heart,  destitute  of  charity,  to  a  person  who  is  acquainted 
only  with  the  fair  side  of  their  character  ;  but  to  those  who  are  conversant 
with  them  in  New  England,  that  they  should  conceive  such  a  design  is 
far  from  being  a  thing  incredible.  Now  if  this  is  the  case,  I  have  author 
ity  from  Mr.  Backus,  a  man  of  unblemished  reputation,  to  inform  you 
that,  so  far  as  he  could  judge,  from  being  on  the  spot  and  viewing  the 
lands,  etc.,  wrested  from  those  poor  Baptists,  he  verily  thought  their  com 
plaints  were  lighter  than  their  grievances,  and  that  their  sufferings  have 
been  extremely  great.  And  as  Mr.  Backus  is  appointed  by  the  body  of 
the  Baptists  in  New  England  to  collect  materials  for  their  history,  he 


1770-1773. 


BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  205 


prays  und  doubts  not  but  you  will,  through  my  hands,  favor  him  with  in 
telligence  respecting  this  matter,  by  the  first  opportunity,  that  he  may 
have  it  in  his  power  to  undeceive  you  if  they  have  sent  you  these  accounts. 
The  state  of  the  college  is  much  the  same  as  when  I  wrote  last,  as  to 
numbers,  and  still  wants  powerful  friends  to  patronize  and  endow  it. 
Messrs.  Keith  and  Gill,  the  Doctor's  executors,  by  the  last  ship  have  sent 
us  a  set  of  the  Doctor's  works,  and  fifty-two  volumes  of  the  Fathers,  etc., 
which  is  the  greatest  donation  our  little  library  has  yet  had. 

I.  have  visited  the  western  provinces  this  fall,  and  find  there  but  dead 
times  in  religion,  except  in  Virginia,  where  God  still  continues  to  do  won 
ders  amongst  the  people  ;  though,  as  of  old,  by  instruments  to  the  eye  of 
human  reason  very  weak ;  But  God  clothes  them  with  power.  I  attended 
the  Philadelphia  Association,  held  in  New  York  this  year,  and  was  very 
agreeably  entertained  with  the  company  of  a  number  of  my  fellow-servants, 
who  seem  zealous  to  promote  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  One  of  them, 
Mr.  David  Jones,  has  been  the  last  summer  visiting  and  preaching  to  the 
western  tribes  of  Indians  between  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi ;  and,  like  an 
apostle  amongst  the  Gentiles,  was  to  set  out  on  the  first  of  this  month,  at 
his  own  charges,  to  pay  his  interpreter,  and  spend  the  winter  among  the 
natives.  He  says  they  give  car  to  the  gospel,  and  importuned  him  to 
come  again.  He  thinks  there  is  a  great  prospect  of  many  turning  to  God 
amongst  them  ;  and  who  knows  but  they  may  ?  I  believe  it  is  the  first 
instance  of  the  Baptists  going  among  them  for  that  purpose.  The  Asso 
ciation  was  highly  pleased  with  the  accounts  he  gave,  and  recommended 
it  to  the  churches  to  set  on  foot  a  collection  for  him ;  but  I  fear  he  must 
exhaust  his  own  little  pittance,  notwithstanding  what  they  will  do ;  for 
public  spirit  is  a  virtue  rarely  found  in  this  country  amongst  good  people. 
But  lest  I  weary  your  patience,  I  subscribe  myself,  sir, 

Your  friend  and  servant, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

KEY.    ISAAC   WOODMAN,  TO  MANNING. 

THORP  (or  SUTTON),  near  LEICESTER, 

Feb.  20,  1773. 
REVEREND  SIR  : 

By  the  favor  of  Mr.  Ryland  I  have  seen  the  New  York  Association  let 
ter,  and  have  had  some  account  also  of  yours  to  him.     I  am  glad  Christ's 
interest  under  our  denomination  has  such  a  respectable  footing  in  your 
parts,  but  sorry  for  the  languor  of  religion  in  some  places,  whilst  glad  'tis 
18 


206  M  A  N  N  I N  G    A  3  D  CHAP.  IV. 

otherwise  elsewhere.  Amongst  other  things  at  the  Association,  the  re 
spectful  notice  taken  of  Mr.  Edwards  gives  me  pleasure. 

As  I  am  a  Avell-wisher  to  the  prosperity  of  the  college,  I  would,  if  I 
could,  advise  to  anything  for  its  furtherance.  If  you  were  to  come  over, 
I  fear  your  compass  or  scope  for  soliciting  visits  would  be  very  narrow. 
There  is  no  reasonable  hope  of  success  where  congregations  are  unable  to 
support  the  interest  at  home,  and  where  there  may  be  a  prejudice  against 
literature  :  a  common  but  not  universal  case  amongst  us.  I  think  it  would 
be  in  vain  to  attempt  it,  unless  you  have  encouragement  from  London, 
Bristol,  and  a  few  more  of  our  opulent  congregations. 

But,  whether  you  come  or  not,  I  have  long  thought  that  a  good  printed 
narrative  of  the  state  of  the  college  sent  hither,  to  be  disbursed  by  its 
friends,  would  be  of  service.  I  doubt  not  some  fruit  would  spring  from 
such  seed  scattered  by  skilful  hands. 

You  will  bo  able,  I  hope,  to  let  us  know  that  our  denomination  in  the 
Island,  and  especially  the  college,  is  loyal  and  obedient,  disapproving  the 
opposition  made  to  Government  in  your  neighborhood,  if  public  reports 
of  such  opposition  made,  be  indeed  true.  I  am  for  liberty,  regularly  main 
tained. 

Should  any  such  narrative  be  sent,  or  brought  by  yourself,  it  is  to  be 
hoped  the  list  of  those  you  have  honored  with  degrees  will  not  be  put  into 
every  hand,  or  at  least  that  those  who  particularly  desire  it  may  have  their 
names  omitted.  I  esteem  the  honors  of  the  college,  and  am  obliged  to 
the  Faculty  for  putting  my  name  amongst  your  worthies  ;  pray  please  to 
present  my  grateful  compliments  ;  but  I  must  not  own  the  title.  "Pis  an 
honor  I  cannot  support.  For  your  sakes,  therefore,  as  well  as  for  my  own, 
I  must  decline  it.  I  ought  to  say,  indeed,  in  favor  of  my  friends,  who 
ever  recommended  me  to  your  regards,  they  verily  believed,  I  doubt  not, 
that  I  was  qualified  ;  and  it  might  have  been  so  had  I  prosecuted  my  begin 
nings  ;  but  an  inveterate  headache,  of  above  thirty  years'  standing,  has  dis 
abled  me  from  making  much  addition  to  what  I  set  out  with  when  I  left 
Bristol.  I  am  a  hearty  friend  to  your  cause.  My  silence  has  not  been 
from  carelessness  or  ingratitude,  and  much  less  from  contempt.  I  desired 
Mr.  Ryland  to  make  my  excuse.  I  am  not  able  to  show  the  regards  I 
wish  to  discover;  howbeit,  I  have  friendly  designs.  But  the  honor  you 
have  done  me  would,  if  known,  us  it  is  not  yet  in  my  neighborhood,  block 
up  my  way  to  serve  you,  which  I  have  much  at  heart  to  do. 

I  congratulate  you  upon  your  correspondence  with  and  interest  in  Mr. 
Ryland.  He  is,  I  may  say  from  long  acquaintance  with  him,  a  worthy 


1770-1773.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  207 

man,  and  a  warm  friend  of  the  cause  which  he  espouses.  I  do  not  know 
that  you  could  have  one  more  zealous  in  your  affairs  in  all  Old  England. 
With  sincere  and  hearty  wishes  that  the  honorable  and  important  institu 
tion  over  which  you  preside  may  have  its  worthy  ends  answered  in  the 
furtherance  of  knowledge,  virtue,  and  true  religion,  and  yourself  be  greatly 
helped  and  blessed  with  all  needful  assistance  in  the  good  work  of  form 
ing  the  minds  of  youth,  I  rest,  esteemed  and  dear  sir, 

Yours,  affectionately, 

ISAAC  WOODMAN. 


PROVIDENCE,  Nov.  26,  1773. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

Yours  of  Feb.  20th,  1773,  came  to  hand  last  week,  in  company  with 
several  others,  agreeable  letters  from  friends  in  England,  to  whom  I  write 
by  this  opportunity.  I  am  heartily  glad  to  hear  your  favorable  disposi 
tion  towards  the  college,  and  oould  heartily  concur  with  you  in  your 
wishes  for  greater  abilities  to  serve  its  interests  ;  though  we  have  for  our 
encouragement  the  commendation  of  the  poor  widowr's  contribution.  I 
should  think  it  a  prodigy  if  all  you  English  Baptists  Avere  friends  to  lit 
erature,  while  the  case  is  so  far  otherwise  in  America.  But  I  think  your 
good,  zealous  people  are  mistaken  in  striking  against  it,  when  kept  in  its 
proper  place,  — I  mean  in  making  it  an  handmaid  to  religion. 

I  am  sorry  you  are  so  scrupulous  in  point  of  confessing  the  honor  we 
meant  to  confer  on  you,  though  you  must  be  a  better  judge  of  the  expedi 
ency  of  this,  in  your  situation,  than  I  can  possibly  be.  But  the  infant 
state  of  literature  in  this  new  world,  and  the  usages  of  the  college  here, 
lead  us  to  conclude,  from  your  known  character,  that  you  need  not  be  so 
diffident  of  your  abilities  as  to  decline  the  feather,  as  our  common  friend 
Mr.  Ryland  calls  it. 

The  history  of  the  rise,  present  state,  etc ,  of  the  college,  will  be  done 
in  some  manner,  and  sent  to  England  next  spring,  unless  Providence 
should  prevent  it ;  but  I  wish  it  could  be  done  by  an  abler  hand,  or  that 
I  had  more  leisure  than  my  present  circumstances  will  afford  for  it.  I 
know  how  to  sympathize  with  you  in  your  inveterate  complaint  (of  the 
headache)  ;  for,  while  I  write,  I  am  distressed  witli  this  pain. 

I  highly  prize  Mr.  Ryland's  friendship,  because  I  have  found  him  a 
friend  indeed.  I  revere. his  character,  and  place  the  highest  confidence  in. 


208  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IV. 

him.  The  very  small  number  of  friends  and  the  great  number  of  enemies 
the  college  has,  requires  the  greater  exertion  of  the  few  friends  of  which  it 
can  boast,  in  its  favor.  I  hope  to  sec  it  on  a  more  respectable  footing, 
should  I  live  to  an  advanced  age  ;  and  if  not,  I  hope  posterity  will  reap 
great  advantages  from  it.  With  the  most  hearty  wishes  for  your  highest 
welfare,  I  am, 

Your  friend  and  servant  in  the  gospel, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

N.  B.  — I  hope  those  who  know  the  little  Colony  of  Rhode  Island,  and 
especially  the  Baptist  society  in  it,  will  find  that,  though  firm  in  the 
cause  of  constitutional  liberty,  we  are  as  loyal  subjects  as  any  of  which 
his  Majesty  King  George  can  boast.  I  wish  I  could  tell  you  more  agree 
able  news  of  the  state  of  religion  among  us,  but  it  is  indeed  a  dark  day. 
Enclosed  I  send  you  a  form  of  bequeathment,  which  we  make  use  of  this 
way.  At  Newport  I  find  one  of  which  I  had  no  knowledge  before. 

J.  M. 

Concerning  Mr.  Woodman,  and  his  suggestion  in  regard 
to  a  narrative  of  the  college,  Mr.  Ryland,  under  date  of 
Feb.  9,  1773,  thus  writes  to  Manning :  — 

"  My  good  father  in  the  ministry,  and  counsellor,  Mr.  Isaac  Woodman, 
is  earnestly  desirous  (and  with  him  I  concur)  to  hear  from  you.  A  clear 
narration  of  the  rise,  progress,  and  present  state  of  the  college  at  Rhode 
Island,  with  an  account  of  the  methods  of  education  in  the  languages,  sci 
ences,  and  divinity ;  the  exercises  of  the  students,  and  the  character  of 
those  who  have  distinguished  themselves  by  their  diligence,  improvement, 
and  piety,  —  this  we  think  to  reprint  and  disperse  through  all  England 
amongst  our  best  and  richest  friends  of  all  denominations,  in  order  to  so 
licit  subscriptions  arid  donations.  Had  you  done  this  already,  and  sent 
about  twenty  honors  to  the  men  I  named,  a  way  would  have  been  paved 
for  your  coming  over  and  making  your  appearance  and  personal  applica 
tions  this  next  summer.  But  for  want  of  these  two  preliminaries,  you 
have  prevented  yourself  from  coming  with  a  good  prospect  of  success  for 
this  year.  If  you  will  take  our  advice,  and  put  it  in  our  power  to  serve 
you  by  conciliating  men's  esteem  and  affection  to  your  person  and  col 
lege,  perhaps  we  can  pave  the  way  for  you  by  next  May  come  twelve 
month,  1774  ;  and  may  do  Rhode  Island  some  service." 


1770-1773.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY. 


209 


The  following  playful  letter  to  his  intimate  friend,  the 
Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith,  shows  that  Dr.  Manning  could  be 
merry,  as  well  as  serious.  Indeed,  he  was  noted  above 
most  men  for  his  genial  companionship  and  rare  social 

qualities. 

PROVIDENCE,  May  5,  1773. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

This  is  to  give  you  the  reason  why  I  did  not  visit  you  at  Haverhill, 
and  invite  you  to  come  to  Providence.  I  set  out  from  Providence,  in- 
tending  to  spend  a  week  at  Boston  and  Haverhill.  We  (for  Mrs.  Manning 
accompanied  me)  arrived  at  Boston  Friday  evening,  and  proposed  to  set 
out  for  Haverhill  on  Monday ;  but  that  and  several  succeeding  days 
proving  rainy,  and  Mrs.  Manning  being  very  poorly,  to  our  very  great  dis 
appointment,  mortification,  etc.,  we  were  obliged  to  return  to  Providence 
without  going  further.  Now,  therefore,  as  I  am  tied  to  college,  pray  take 
Mrs.  Smith,  and  the  heir  apparent,1  and  the  neAV  chaise,  and  come  and 
take  your  station  for  a  week  or  two  on  the  hill  of  Providence,  where  I 
will  insure  you  excellent  good  water,  the  best  my  house  affords,  and  our 
good  company.  Pray,  what  more  would  you  have  ?  If  anything  in  my 
power  to  render  the  visit  still  more  agreeable,  depend  on  it,  you  shaVt  be 

wanting  it. 

I  have  made  a  tour  into  the  hither  parts  of  Connecticut  this  vacation, 
and  preached  fifteen  times  in  fourteen  days  ;  seven  of  them  in  Presbyterian 
meeting-houses.  What  do  you  think  of  that '?  See  what  it  is  to  be  cath 
olic  like  me,  while  you,  with  brandishing  weapons,  take  the  field  of  Mars 
like  an  old  veteran  that  scorns  to  let  his  sword  rust.  Good  success  to  you, 
if  you  must  draw.  I  have  received  a  packet  from  England,  and  our  good 
friend  Rev.  John  Ryland  is  angry  enough  because  we  did  not  give  degrees 
to  the  gentlemen  he  recommended,  and  says  that  we  have  lost  by  it  greatly. 
How  happens  it  that  not  one  scholar,  through  your  influence,  comes  from 
you  to  our  college  I?  fear  you  don't  exert  yourself.  We  have  no  late 
news  from  the  westward.  Friends  here  are  generally  well,  and  very  de 
sirous  to  see  and  hear  Mr.  Smith,  as  are  your  good  friends  at  New  London. 
Mrs.  Manning  joins  in  love  to  you  and  Mrs.  Smith,  as,  also,  to  all  our 
good  friends  at  Haverhill,  with,  dear  sir, 

Your  unworthy  brother, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

i  Their  infant  son,  born  March  12, 1772. 
18* 


210  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IV. 

Dr.  Manning  now  begins  a  correspondence  with  the 
Rev.  Benjamin  Wallin,  a  prominent  Baptist  minister  of 
London,  and  a  gentleman  of  reputed  wealth.  He  was 
also  a  religious  writer  of  some  note.  "  The  Christian  Life 
Described,"  "  Discourses  on  various  subjects,"  "  Parable  of 
the  Prodigal  Son,"  "  Evangelical  Hymns  and  Songs,"  and 
various  other  works  by  him  are  to  be  found  upon  the 
shelves  of  the  college  library,  a  gift  from  the  author.  Un 
der  date  of  May  18,  1773,  Manning  thus  writes:  — 

DEAR  BROTHER : 

From  Mr.  Philip  Freeman,  of  Boston,  I  received  your  agreeable  pres 
ent,  on  the  third  inst.,  and  having  perused  with  much  satisfaction  the 
several  pieces,  especially  the  Tribulation,  I  am  rejoiced  to  find  that  it  is 
not  "another  gospel/'  Had  I  capacity,  to  which  I  make  no  preten 
sions,  to  examine  Mr.  Wallin's  productions  with  the  eye  of  a  critic,  I  feel 
no  disposition,  be  assured,  to  do  it.  I  import  annually  a  few  books  from 
London,  principally  for  the  youth  under  my  care,  and  should  have  sent 
for  some  of  your  publications  ;  but  as  Mr.  Backus  has  them  by  him,  I  have 
thus  far  deferred  doing  this,  not  wishing  to  interfere  in  any  way  with  him. 
I  should  be  glad  to  know  whether  you  designed  the  books  as  a  present  to 
me  personally,  or  to  the  college  library,  that  I  may  return  you  thanks  in  a 
proper  manner.  In  cither  case  I  am  greatly  obliged,  and  heartily  thank 
you  therefor. 

The  executors  of  Dr.  Gill  have  followed  the  laudable  example  of  Dr. 
Stennett,  and  made  us  a  present  of  his  works,  which  we  deem  a  most  val 
uable  donation.  These  acts  encourage  us  to  hope  for  similar  favors  from 
our  friends  in  Europe.  Should  any  benevolent  person  be  disposed  to 
make  a  useful  donation  to  our  library  and  at  a  loss  to  know  what  books 
to  choose,  allow  me  to  suggest  the  works  of  good  Mr.  Bunyan,  than  which 
none  would  be  more  acceptable. 

Mr.  Edwards  has  been  your  substitute  for  the  gentlemen  as  desired. 
Through  Messrs.  Stillman  and  Backus  I  learn  that  the  Lord  has  visited 
you  sorely  in  the  loss  of  your  only  daughter.  But  you  need  not  be  told 
by  me  that  God  is  a  portion  infinitely  preferable  to  that  of  sons  or  daugh 
ters.  I  doubt  not  but  you  find  already  a  strong  attachment  to  this  earth 
broken,  and  that  God  leads  by  the  right  way.  The  discipline  of  the  rod 
is  often  necessary,  at  least  to  such  perverse  hearts  as  mine. 


1770-1773.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  211 

Mr.  Backus  informs  me  that  he  has  lately  written  to  you,  thus  remov 
ing  the  necessity  of  my  giving  you  a  recital  of  affairs  amongst  us,  or  of 
detaining  you  longer  than  to  crave  your  indulgence  for  obtruding  upon 
you  this  letter,  which  assures  you,  dear  sir,  of  the  unfeigned  affection  of 
your  unseen  but  very  much  obliged 

Friend  and  servant, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

P.  S.  —  This  day  received  letters  from  several  of  the  western  provinces. 
Tind  that  religion  is  at  a  low  ebb  in  general  there,  as,  alas,  it  is  too  gener 
ally  amongst  us.  If  business  would  permit,  should  rejoice  to  see  a  line 
from  Mr.  Wallin,  by  our  fall  ships. 

Mr.  Wallin's  reply  is  so  excellent  in  spirit,  that  no  apol 
ogy  need  be  offered  for  its  introduction  into  our  present 
work :  — 

LONDON,  July  30,  1773. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

Your  respectful  lines  by  Mr.  Keith  very  much  obliged  me  ;  nor  am  I  less 
indebted  to  your  candor  in  perusing  my  endeavors,  being  sensible  that 
they  will  not  bear  the  eye  of  a  critic.  The  disadvantages  under  which  I 
was  at  length  brought  into  a  service,  conscientiously  declined  in  the  very 
early  part  of  my  life,  in  consequence  of  which  I  deprived  myself  of  an  in 
tended  more  liberal  education,  might  plead  some  excuse ;  and  were  you  to 
know  by  what  solicitation  and  management  I  was  prevailed  on  to  repeat 
my  visits  to  the  press,  you  would  rather  pity  than  blame  me,  and  cover 
my  numerous  defects  with  a  mantle  of  love. 

I  thought  it  a  venture  to  possess  one  of  your  character  with  such  feeble 
and  imperfect  attempts,  —  they  are  at  best  only  fit  for  children  in  Chris 
tianity,  —  how,  then,  could  I  think  of  proposing  them  to  the  most  infant 
seminary  of  learning  ?  Indeed,  sir,  they  were  intended  only  as  an  in 
stance  of  respect  to  yourself,  to  be  glanced  at  with  the  friendly  disposition 
you  express.  It  would  have  impeached  your  last,  had  not  the  ingenibus 
discourses  of  my  much  esteemed  brother,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stennett,  been  uni 
versally  admired  among  you.  As  to  the  works  of  that  great  man,  the 
late  Dr.  Gill,  who  was  truly  a  father,  they  may  justly  be  accounted  a  con 
siderable  acquisition.  I  know  not,  upon  the  whole,  an  author  more  judi 
cious  and  consistent.  The  compass  of  his  writing  is  astonishing,  from 


212  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  IV. 

the  labors  of  which  he  now  rests  until  the  Chief  Shepherd  comes,  when  it 
will  appear  that  our  endeavors  for  his  name  shall  not  be  in  vain. 

But  seeing  you  intimate  that  it  may  not  be  unacceptable,  I  presume, 
though  with  some  reluctance,  to  send  all  I  can  collect  of  my  publications, 
which  together  make  ten  little  volumes,  and  possibly  five  entire  pieces, 
and  five  of  sermons,  addresses,  etc.  Also  the  ordination  of  Rev.  A.  Booth, 
who  sends  a  volume  of  the  sermons  of  his  predecessor,  the  late  Mr.  Wil 
son,  and  his  own  "Reign  of  Grace,"  etc.  These  will  not  be  the  less 
welcome  for  being  accompanied  by  all  the  works  of  Mr.  Bunyan,  agree 
ably  to  your  suggestion.  These  I  present,  with  my  most  respectful  com 
pliments,  to  every  member  of  the  college,  including  their  worthy  President 
the  Rev.  Mr.  James  Manning.  Have  you,  sir,  any  stated  form  of  be- 
queathment  ?  If  not,  permit  me  to  move  for  a  concise  account  of  your 
institution,  with  a  direction  how  to  describe  you  in  a  will.  Such  a  paper, 
neatly  printed  and  disposed,  may  be  useful.  Be  not  sparing  of  copies  to 
your  friends.  The  difference  in  point  of  expense  between  one  or  two 
thousand  is  but  trifling. 

As  to  my  own  works,  most  of  them  have  been  out  of  print  for  some 
years.  They  are  chiefly  practical,  and  all  very  plain.  The  hymns,  more 
especially,  need  an  apology.  They  are  no  other  than  artless  compositions, 
in  which  the  substance  of  occasional  discourses  was  drawn  up  in  a  suit 
able  form.  Such  a  one  did  not  occur  in  our  stated  collection.  At  the 
time,  they  were  sung  with  peculiar  satisfaction,  the  people  being  unac 
quainted  with  the  author ;  but  at  length  many  of  them  were  stolen  and 
mangled,  which  induced  me,  at  the  instance  of  some,  to  print  them,  and 
so  obviate  any  apprehension  of  a  conceit  that  they  were  deserving  of  pub 
lic  notice.  It  is  my  study,  both  in  preaching  and  in  writing,  to  lead  to 
those  inexhaustible  treasures  of  wisdom  and  comfort,  the  Holy  Scriptures  ; 
hence  the  tone  of  my  naked  lines.  I  must  observe  further,  that  in  order 
to  make  up  the  set,  I  was  obliged  to  put  in  a  volume  containing  my 
sermon  on  the  experience  of  the  saints,  which  was  bound  up  in  another. 
You  will  therefore  excuse  a  duplicate  of  them. 

It  is  long  since  I  have  heard  from  my  very  worthy  and  agreeable  corre 
spondent  the  Rev.  Mr.  Backus.  He  usually  much  entertains  me.  I  have 
often  rejoiced  at  his  accounts  of  the  success  of  the  gospel  in  your  world, 
and  am  sorry  to  hear  that  at  present  in  general  it  seems  rather  low.  May 
the  Lord  of  Jacob  revisit  it .'  Two  things  are  threatening  with  us,  —  the 
growth  of  Anti-Trinitarians,  in  a  variety  of  forms,  for  they  cannot  agree ; 
nor  can  I  forbear  to  say  that  I  think  a  dereliction  of,  or  indifference  to  the 


1770-1773.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  213 

divine  Sonship  of  our  glorious  Redeemer,  has  greatly  contributed  to  the 
insolence  of  men  against  that  foundation  of  the  gospel.  The  other  is  a 
popular  ignorance  of  the  authority  of  Christ,  in  particular  church  fellow 
ship,  which  some  are  bold  enough  to  put  on  the  footing  of  prudence  and 
convenience  among  the  disciples  of  Jesus.  The  one  strikes  at  the  doc 
trine,  the  other  at  the  discipline  of  the  gospel.  But  Zion  is  insured 
against  the  gates  of  hell. 

I  am  now  in  the  eve  of  my  ministry  and  life ;  childless,  and  in  a  manner 
destitute  of  natural  relation,  having  lost  an  excellent  wife,  two  sons,  and 
three  daughters.  It  is  good  to  be  weaned  from  an  undue  attachment  to 
the  present  state,  but  afflictions  alone  will  not  do  it.  My  heavenly  Father 
has  been  very  gracious  in  helping  me,  I  trust,  to  receive  not  only  good  at 
his  hand,  but  also  evil.  He  has  given  me  a  name  and  a  place  in  his 
house  better  than  that  of  sons  or  of  daughters,  and  some  spiritual  children 
who  are  exceeding  affectionate  and  dutiful. 

May  your  valuable  life  be  long  spared,  and  all  your  instructions  suc 
ceed  to  the  advantage  of  mankind,  and  especially  to  the  spread  of  the 
truth  and  the  prosperity  of  Jerusalem.     I  remain,  reverend  and  dear  sir, 
Your  obliged  and  truly  affectionate  brother, 

BENJAMIN  WALJLLN. 


TO   THE   EEV.    JOHN   KYIJLND. 

PROVIDENCE,  May  20th,  1773. 
AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

Yours  of  Feb.  9th,  1773,  came  safely  to  hand,  by  the  Charlotte,  Capt. 
Jno.  Rogers,  about  the  20th  of  April,  containing  your  agreeable  present 
of  pieces,  letters,  etc.,  for  all  of  which  I  scarce  need  tell  you  I  heartily 
thank  you.  You  need  not  for  the  future  hesitate  about  sending  anything 
to  me  in  that  way,  or  writing  with  the  utmost  plainness  to  one  who  be 
lieves  not  in  the  use  of  ceremony,  even  if  he  were  master  of  it.  To  con 
vince  you  that  I  am  entirely  suited  with  your  plain  dealing,  I  have 
embraced  the  earliest  opportunity  of  returning  an  answer. 

Your  friendship  to  the  interests  of  the  college  and  religion  here  is  very 
cordially  accepted  by  many  besides  myself ;  and  though  you  thought  we 
slighted  your  friendship,  I  can  assure  you  it  was  not  so  meant ;  I  shall 
be  glad  to  gratify  you,  and  testify  our  respect  for  any  of  your  friends,  on 
every  occasion.  But  I  come  to  particulars. 


214  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IV. 

The  books  ordered  here  from  Mr.  Edwards  have  not  come ;  neither 
have  I  heard  of  them,  except  by  your  letter,  though  I  saw  Mr.  Edwards 
at  Philadelphia  last  October.  He  must  surely  have  forgotten  it  entirely. 

I  have  seen  Mr.  Backus  since  I  received  yours,  and  he  thinks  I  mis 
took  Mr.  Wallin's  meaning,  and  that  he  intended  only  himself.  If  so,  I 
am  sorry  I  mentioned  anything  of  the  matter.  Indeed,  Mr.  Wallin,  in 
his  last  letter,  which  I  Ifave  seen,  intimated  as  much. 

I  entirely  agree  with  you  respecting  academical  honors,  and  the  mode 
of  conferring  them  on  gentlemen  of  taste ;  and  as  you  are  fully  satisfied 
that  the  gentlemen  mentioned  would  cordially  accept  them,  you  may  be 
assured  we  shall  take  proper  care  of  that  matter  next  Commencement,  and 
forward  the  diplomas  as  soon  as  possible.  If  we  have  been  tardy,  I  know 
you  will  forgive  us.  An  unforgiving  friend  is  not  worth  having.  Such  I 
do  not  deem  my  very  good  friend  Mr.  Ryland.  I  am  heartily  sorry  that 
the  college  should  sustain  damage,  through  what  we  meant  only  for  precau 
tion,  and  hope,  if  so,  that  it  will  be  only  temporary.  We  beg  you  not  to 
remit  an  iota  of  your  zeal  in  attaching  gentlemen  of  grace  and  learning, 
property  and  influence,  to  the  college.  For  amongst  all  our  good  friends 
in  Britain,  we  consider  your  opportunities  in  this  way,  together  with  your 
zeal,  as  placing  you  foremost. 

The  character  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Toplady,  which  you  have  enlarged  upon, 
is  truly  a  rare  one,  and  I  shall  think  the  college  highly  honored  in  his 
accepting  a  feather,  and  indeed  in  the  least  expression  of  his  friendship. 

I  am  sorry  to  hear  that  pious  Mr.  Woodman  is  so  exceedingly  modest 
as  not  to  choose  to  wear  his  feather ;  but  am  glad  to  hear  such  a  worthy 
character  of  him,  and  that  he  is  so  well  disposed  towards  the  college  as 
to  think  of  providing  for  it.  May  the  Lord  possess  many  others  with  the 
same  spirit !  I  hope  you  may  have  it  in  your  power  to  put  many  more 
in  the  way  of  leaving  us  some  love  tokens,  when  they  are  better  employed 
than  in  enjoying  terrestrial  goods.  This  is  what  I  have  hoped  for,  though 
hitherto  I  have  not  seen  cause  to  expect  much  from  it  soon. 

I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  annual  contribution  of  five  guineas. 
I  have  made  free  to  draw  a  bill  for  them  in  favor  of  Mr.  Geo.  Keith,  of 
London,  hoping  that  the  Lord  may  enable  me  to  conduct  worthy  the  gos 
pel,  so  that  you  may  not  repent  the  donation. 

Your  opinion  of  lotteries  coincides  with  mine  ;  but  some  of  our  friends 
urged  me  to  mention  the  subject,  as  they  could  not  see  a  prospect  of  sup 
plies  in  any  other  way.  Besides,  I  believe  there  have  not  been  such  in- 


1770-1773.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  215 

iquitous  methods  used  in  this  matter,  with  us,  as  in  the  State  lotteries  at 
home.  They  have  been  used  to  promote  good  designs. 

The  book  from  Mr.  Stillman  we  have  received,  though  lately,  as  Mr. 
Story  did  not  do  his  errand  to  Mr.  Stillman  faithfully. 

I  have  written  to  Mr.  Edwards  respecting  the  books  in  his  hands,  and 
expect  an  answer  soon.  Perhaps  you  may  meet  this  in  London.  If  so  you 
need  not  mention  the  hint  relative  to  Dr.  Chauncey ;  for  I  believe  he  has 
not  yet  forwarded  anything  of  that  nature. 

To  give  you  a  full  detail  of  facts  and  instances  of  the  ill-will  of  persons 
to  the  college1  would  require  "centum  ora  etferrea  vox,"  as  sung  the  poet. 
Dr.  Stiles,  of  Newport,  gave  as  a  reason  to  the  corporation  for  not  accept 
ing  a  place  in  the  Faculty,  the  offense  he  should  give  his  brethren  should 
he  accept  it.  The  manner  of  obtaining  the  charter,  has,  by  the  clergy  of 
the  Congregational  society,  been  represented  as  highly  iniquitous.  (But 
the  particulars  of  this  affair  you  shall  have  as  soon  as  the  college  history 
can  be  completed  and  sent  to  you,  together  with  other  particulars  which 
you  request.)  Those  gentlemen  of  that  denomination  who  have  spoken 
favorably  of  the  institution  have  been  reprimanded,  as  I  have  been  cred 
ibly  informed,  and  that  by  a  convention,  for  showing  us  so  much  counte 
nance  as  to  attend  the  Commencement.  I  was  lately  told  by  a  worthy 
minister  of  that  order  in  Connecticut,  that  one  of  the  same  order  in  this 
town,  a  sour  man,  had  done  the  college  amazing  damage  by  representing 
us  as  bigots,  and  our  sole  design  to  be  that  of  proselyting  to  the  Baptist 
sentiments  ;  and  that  if  they  sent  their  children  here  they  never  could  get 
into  any  employment  in  that  Government ;  so  that  he  had  it  not  in  his  power 
to  send  us  the  scholars  to  whom  he  taught  grammar,  though  he  chose  it. 
The  same  zeal  has  been  used  in  the  neighboring  provinces,  both  by  him 
and  others ;  and  both  parents  and  tutors  have  repeatedly  told  me  that  ev 
erything  except  violence  has  been  used,  and  almost  that  in  some  instan 
ces,  to  prevent  them  from  sending  their  children  here.  Some  of  them 
have  boasted  that  they  have  prevented  persons  from  coming  who  de 
signed  it ;  and  few  scholars  come  but  say  every  obstacle  has  been  laid  in 
their  way  to  prevent  them.  The  characters  of  the  teachers,  their  abilities, 
and  the  character  of  the  place  even,  have  been  aspersed  to  the  highest  de- 


i  Jfr.  By  Ian  d,  in  a  letter  to  Manning,  under  date  of  Feb.  9,  1778,  thus  writes: 
"I  wish  you  would  give  me  a  full  detail  of  facts  and  instances  of  the  ill-will  of 

men  to  your  seminary.    I  would  make  use  of  them  for  its  benefit  and  advantage, 

without  hurtiu?  YOU  in  the  least.'' 


21G  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  IV. 

gree  for  the  same  purpose.  But  I  should  tire  you  to  recite  a  small  part 
of  our  ill-treatment.  They  know  that  the  low  state  of  the  college  fund 
requires  considerable  tuition  money  to  support  the  teachers,  and  that 
that  depends  on  the  number  of  scholars.  If,  therefore,  they  can  prevent 
them  from  coming,  they  know  they  distress  us.  But,  notwithstanding  what 
I  have  said  of  our  enemies,  there  are  many  valuable  men  in  that  society 
in  these  parts,  some  of  whom  are  friendly  to  the  college ;  but  through 
their  connections,  or  want  of  ability,  few  of  them  have  it  in  their  power 
to  express  their  friendship. 

You  may  expect  a  particular  account  of  our  mode  of  education,  and 
of  the  students,  their  characters,  proficiency,  piety,  etc.,  when  we  send 
you  an  account  of  the  rise,  progress,  and  present  state  of  the  college, 
which  I  intend  to  draw  up  as  soon  as  I  can,  and  forward  it  by  the  first 
opportunity.  Our  number  of  scholars  is  thirty,  and  amongst  them  are 
many  pious,  promising  young  men.  Take  them  together,  they  are  a  set  of 
well-behaved  boys.  I  have  a  Latin  school  under  my  care,  taught  by  one 
of  our  graduates,  of  about  twenty  boys.  Amongst  those  who  have  left  ITS 
are  three  eminent  Baptist  ministers,  their  age  considered,  and  another 
just  entered  on  the  work,  who,  I  am  told,  promises  as  fair  as  any  of  the 
others  ;  one  attoniey-at-law,  the  most  eminent  at  the  bar  of  any  in  this 
colony,  etc.,  etc. 

I  thank  you  for  the  list  of  ministers  of  the  Church  of  England,  and 
shall  be  glad  to  see  that  of  the  Calvinist  Baptist  ministers. 

"What  treatise  upon  fluxions  do  you  deem  the  best  ?  The  state  of  reli 
gion  is  generally  at  a  low  ebb  amongst  us.  May  the  Lord  revive  it ! 
"Would  your  English  people  be  scared  at  an  American  Indian  ?  I  remain, 
dear  sir,  your  unworthy  friend  and  brother  in  the  gospel, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

MEMORANDA    AND    HINTS    FOE 
PROF.    MANNING,    AT    EIIODE    ISLAND. 

[No  date.    Probably  August,  1773.] 

1,  The  Calvinistical  Baptist  ministers  in  England  and  Wales  are  about 
two  hundred  ;  but  I  have  given  away  my  printed  lists,  and  forgot  to  ask 
Mr.  "Wallin  for  some  more.     Be  so  good  as  to  mention  it  to  him. 

2.  I  cannot  yet  procure  a  complete  list  of  the  Independent  ministers 
and  churches,     You  know  there  are  about  thirty-two  in  London,  and  \ve 
have  twelve  or  fourteen  in  Northampton. 


1770-1773. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  217 


3.  I  suppose  you  know  that  it  was  Dr.  Stennett  that  procured  an  order 
from  Government  to  put  a  stop  to  the  oppression  of  the  Baptists  near 
Boston.     I  have  not  a  perfect  idea  of  that  affair. 

4.  Two  young  men,  of  good  parts  and  sound  knowledge  of  the  learned 
languages,  and  men  of  eloquence  and  piety,  are  lately  come  into  the  min 
istry  from  Mr.  Evan's  academy  in  Bristol ;  namely,  Mr.  Biggs,  just  going 
to  be  ordained  over  the  Baptist  church  at  Wantage,  in  Berkshire,  and 
Mr.  Dtinscombe,  at  Coat  in  Oxfordshire,  whose  ordination  is  to  be  at  the 
same  time.     You  will  do  well  to  mark  them  down  as  men  of  uncommon 
merit,  worthy  of  your  feathers  in  a  year. 

5.  The  sooner  you  send  over  a  clear,  short,  printed  account  of  your 
college,  in  its  rise  and  present  state,  the  better.     I  beg  you  would  pay  due 
and  equal  attention  to  our  leading  men,  in  presenting  each  with  a  copy, 
that  no  jealousy  or  pique  against  you  may  arise.     You  know  our  chief 
ministers.     We  have  about  thirty  or  forty  that  can  read  Greek.     Let  not 
one  be  forgot.     If  you  know  not  all  of  them,  I  will  inform  you,  or  take 
the  trouble  of  giving  them  a  copy  in  your  name. 

6.  As  to  your  visit  to  old  England,  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  you,  and  will 
do  you  all  the  service  I  can  ;  but  I  wish  you  to  attach  some  more  of  our 
ministers  to  your  interest  by  your  pretty  baubles  first,  and  also  let  your 
account  of  the  college  come  six  months  before  you. 

7.  As  to  your  worthy  Mathematical  Professor,  I  wish  him  all  possible 
success ;  but  I  must  not  presume  to  assist  or  direct  him  with  respect  to  the 
best  book  on  fluxions.     The  students  at  our  Cambridge  use  chiefly  an 
abridgment  of  Sanderson's  Algebra,  an  octavo,  price  six  shillings  ;  and 
then  we  have  such  a  number  of  books  on  fluxions,  so  good  that  'tis  hard 
to  say  which  is  the  best.     There  are  four  of  great  note  ;  namely,  Maclau- 
rin,  Ditton,  Thomas  Simpson,  and  Emerson  last  of  all,  who  is  now  liv 
ing.    He  has  published  a  noble  course  of  mathematical  learning,  in  about 
ten  or  twelve  octavo  volumes.     He  is  an  amazing  genius  in  the  north  of 
England.      His  Mechanics,  quarto,  fourteen    shillings,  and  Astronomy, 
octavo,  six  shillings,  I  have  in  my  study.     But  the  lovely  humane  philos 
opher,  and  my  intimate  friend,  is  James  Ferguson,  F.  R.  S.     He  has  just 
now  assisted  me  to  complete  my  optical  cards,  which  are  engraving  on 
copper  plates.    You  will,  I  hope,  approve  of  them,  as  the  easiest  introduc 
tion  to  optics  ever  seen  in  the  world.     By  the  way,  Ferguson  drew  up  the 
book  you  have  in  your  hands  with  my  name  to  it ;  for  I  could  not  per 
suade  him  to  put  his  own,  for  fear  of  appearing  ungrateful  to  Andrew 
Miller,  bookseller,  who  had  been  his  friend  in  a  time  of  need. 

19 


218  MANNING  AND  CHAP.  IV. 

CALVINISTIC  BAPTIST   MINISTERS   IN  ENGLAND  WHO   CAN  READ 
THE   GREEK    TESTAMENT,   ETC. 

1.  SAMUEL  STENNETT,  D.D., 

2.  BENJAMIN  WALLIN, 


London. 


3.  WILLIAM  CLARK, 

4.  JOHN  REYNOLDS, 

5.  ABRAHAM  BOOTH, 

6.  DR.  GIFFORD, 

1.  HUGH  EVANS,    } 

2.  CALEB  EVANS,    L  Bristol. 

3.  MR.  NEWTON, 

1.  BENJAMIM  BEDDOME,  Bourton,  on  the  water,  Gloucester. 

2.  JOHN  ASH,  Pershore,  Worcestershire. 

3.  JOSHUA  SYMMONDS,  of  Bedford,  who  has  lately  altered  his  senti 
ments  from  a  Pedobaptist,  and  honestly  is  come  into  and  submitted 
to  believer's  baptism ;  for  which  he  is  abhorred  and  despised  by  the 
Independent  ministers.     Give  him  your  best  honors. 

4.  DANIEL  TURNER,  Abingdon,  Berkshire. 

5.  MR.  ROBINSON,  of  Cambridge. 

6.  PHILIP  GIBBS,  of  Plymouth. 

7.  MORGAN  JONES,  of  Hampstead,  Hertfordshire. 

8.  SAMUEL  JAMES,  of  Hitchin,  Hertfordshire.     Now  dying. 

9.  ISAAC  WOODMAN,  of  Leicestershire. 

10.  JOHN  BROWN,  of  Kettering,  Northamptonshire. 

11.  BIGGS  and  DUNSCOMBE  ;  excellent  scholars. 

12.  ROBERT  DAY,  Wellington,  Somersetshire. 

13.  BENJAMIN  FULLER,  Devizes. 

14.  JOHN  POYNTING,  Worcester. 

15.  JOHN  OULTON,  of  Rawden  in  Yorkshire. 

16.  JOHN  FAWCETT,  of  Wainsgate,  Yorkshire  ;  now  keeps  a  seminary. 

17.  JOSEPH  JENKINS. 

18.  BENJAMIN  DAVIES,  in  Wales,  keeps  an  academy  at  Abergavemry, 
about  ten  pupils.     Give  him  a  feather. 

19.  MR.  JOHN  RIPPON,  at  Dr.  Gill's  meeting-house. 

20.  RYLAND,  Sen. 

21.  RYLAND,  Jun. 


1770-1773.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  219 

President  Manning,  in  his  official  relations,  was  not  alto 
gether  unmindful  of  the  wise  man's  injunction  touching 
the  rod.  "  John  "  to  whom  Mr.  Hart  refers  below,  was  now, 
it  seems,  a  Freshman  in  college.  He  had  probably  been 
one  of  Manning's  grammar-school  pupils.  Whether  he 
profited  by  the  "discipline,"  we  cannot  say.  As  his  name, 
however,  appears  among  the  graduates  four  years  later,  it 
is  reasonable  to  draw  the  most  favorable  inferences. 


CHARLESTON,  Nov.  5th,  1773. 
DEAR  MR.  PRESIDENT  : 

I  have  hardly  time  to  say,  yours  of  the  6th  Sept.,  ult,  came  to  hand 
two  days  ago.  I  am  now  preparing  for  a  journey  into  Georgia,  very 
high  up,  in  order  to  assist  my  good  Brother  Pelot  in  constituting  a  Baptist 
church.  The  Lord  has  greatly  owned  the  labors  of  our  young  Botfford  ; 
many  are  converted,  baptized,  and  are  now  waiting  for  the  enjoyment  of 
church  privileges.  This  intelligence,  I  know,  will  be  agreeable  to  you ; 
more  so  than  the  account  you  gave  of  my  sad  boy  was  to  me.  I  am  sorry 
John  has  conducted  so  as  to  give  you  so  much  trouble,  and  to  forfeit  the 
place  he  had  under  the  management  of  Mrs.  Manning.  Had  I  been  ap 
prised  of  his  unworthy  conduct  sooner,  perhaps  I  should  have  remanded 
him  back  to  Carolina ;  for  I  am  not  in  such  affluent  circumstances  as  to 
throw  away  money  in  the  education  of  one  who  has  no  view  to  his  own 
advantage.  I  thank  you,  however,  for  all  the  pains  you  have  taken  with 
him,  and  that  you  have  made  trial  of  the  discipline  of  the  rod.  Let  me 
entreat  you  unweariedly  to  exert  your  best  endeavors  for  his  advantage. 
Who  knows  but  God  may  give  him  a  turn  1  I  should  be  sorry  he  should 
return  a  worthless  blockhead.  When  I  return  from  my  Georgia  route, 
which  will  take  me  near  a  month,  I  shall  use  my  utmost  endeavors  to 
remit  you  some  more  guineas.  I  have  enough  due  me  if  I  could  collect 
it ;  but  cash  was  never  so  scarce  in  Carolina  as  at  present.  This  is  an 
unfavorable  circumstance,  both  for  you  and  for  me. 

I  should  be  glad  to  see  an  account  of  your  late  Commencement  in  print. 
Pray,  how  goes  on  the  great  man  of  Haverhill  ?  I  have  heard  nothing 
from  him  for  a  great  while  past ;  and  I  hear  almost  as  little  about  Mr. 
Stillman,  or  our  affairs  in  Boston.  How  is  Mr.  Davis's  place  supplied  ? 
Has  that  church  any  minister  ? 


220  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IV. 

Could  you  not  prevail  on  John  to  write  to  me  ?  I  have  received  but 
one  letter  from  him  for  the  space  of  twelve  months  past,  although  I  have 
sharply  reproved  him  for  his  neglect,  over  and  over  again.  "With  kind 
love  to  Mrs.  Manning,  I  remain, 

Yours,  with  much  esteem, 

OLIVER  HART. 

TO    THE   EEV.   JOHN   EYLAND. 

PROVIDENCE,  Nov.  25,  1773. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

Yours  by  Capt.  Shand  I  received  last  week.  I  am  obliged  to  you  for 
the  number  of  Calvinist  Baptist  ministers  in  England  and  Wales,  and  for 
information  where  I  may  procure  a  complete  list  of  Independent  ministers. 

I  did  not  know  before  that  it  was  Dr.  Stennett  who  procured  the  repeal 
of'the  Ashficld  law  against  the  Baptists.  I  rejoice  at  the  addition  of 
Messrs.  Biggs  and  Dunscombe  to  the  number  of  laboi-ers  in  the  vineyard 
of  our  Lord.  I  shall  remember  and  do  honor  to  such  worthy  characters. 

I  expect  we  shall  be  able  to  send  over  a  printed  account  of  the  college 
the  next  spring,  together  with  diplomas  to  those  in  England  who  were 
graduated  the  last  fall.  The  reason  of  our  being  so  tardy  in  this  matter  is, 
the  corporation,  at  their  last  meeting,  ordered  us  to  revise  the  form  of  our 
diplomas,  and  send  it  to  England  to  be  engraved  in  copper  plate,  and 
procure  a  quantity  of  good  parchment,  as  we  had  none  here  fit  to  send 
abroad.  Should  you  happen  in  London  on  the  receipt  of  this,  I  should 
be  glad  to  have  you  inspect  the  draught  and  design,  and  prescribe  the 
best  form  of  the  plate,  hands,  etc. 

I  shall  pay  duo  attention  to  the  literary  gentlemen  you  mentioned, 
when  the  account  of  the  college  is  sent  over,  and  am  obliged  to  you  for 
your  proffered  kindness  in  distributing  them.  This  I  shall  expect. 

I  know  not  whether  I  shall  ever  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  your  face  in 
the  flesh  ;  should  my  life  be  spared,  though,  it  would  be  very  agreeable. 
However,  we  shall  omit  nothing  which  is  judged  agreeable  or  necessary 
to  pave  the  way  for  some  future  personal  solicitation  in  favor  of  our  col 
lege  in  England,  should  it  be  thought  expedient.  Am  obliged  to  you  for 
the  account  of  books  on  fluxions  and  your  optical  card.  I  doubt  not  I 
shall  approve  of  it  when  favored  with  a  sight. 

In  company  with  yours  I  received  a  letter  from  that  venerable  man, 
Rev.  Isaac  Woodman,  together  with  another  testimony  of  his  good-will 


1770-1773.  BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  221 

towards  us.  He  writes  like  an  experienced,  modest  father.  This  letter  I 
must  answer,  though  I  am  greatly  paralyzed  with  a  crowd  of  business,  and 
cannot  do  it  as  I  would  be  glad  to  do.  Also  Rev.  Benjamin  Wallin,  of 
London,  sent  me  an  agreeable  letter,  accompanied  with  all  he  has  published, 
in  ten  volumes,  neatly  bound  and  gilt,  with  the  most  valuable  works  of 
John  Bunyan,  in  six  volumes,  the  Reign  of  Grace,  by  "William  Booth 
and  Wilson's  Sermons,  —  all  for  the  college  library.  These  I  esteem 
valuable  presents. 

Enclosed  I  send  you  the  Minutes  of  the  Association  at  Philadelphia, 
and  that  called  the  Warren  Association,  in  New  England. 

The  last  vacation  I  spent  in  riding  three  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  and 
preaching  twenty-five  times,  to  a  number  of  our  little  Baptist  churches  and 
societies  in  New  England ;  many  of  which  I  never  had  visited  before. 
Was  cordially  received,  and  importuned  to  repeat  my  visit  as  soon  as 
might  be.  In  general  found  religion  to  wear  a  promising  aspect ;  but  in 
many  places  they  met  with  a  great  interruption  from  the  Establishment 
in  New  England.  I  wonder  how  men  by  human  laws  can  establish  a  re 
ligion,  and  then  have  the  effrontery  to  call  it  Christ's  kingdom ! 

I  should  have  sent  to  you  before  this  for  a  number  of  your  books,  but 
understood  you  had  sent  some  of  them  to  Mr.  Edwards,  directed  to  me, 
which  I  have  not  seen.     With  my  best  wishes  for  your  welfare,  I  am,  sir, 
Your  unworthy  brother  in  the  gospel, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

P.  S. — I  have  seen  Rev.  Augustus  Toplady's  Treatise  on  Predestina 
tion,  with  his  letter  to  Rev.  Jno.  Wesley,  and  deem  them  masterly  per 
formances,  answering  well  the  character  you  gave  him. 

TO   THE   REV.  BENJAMIN   WALLIN. 

PROVIDENCE,  Nov.  25th,  1773. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  Sin : 

Yours  of  July  30th,  by  Capt.  Shand,  together  with  the  box  of  books, 
came  safe  to  hand  last  week ;  for  which  I  return  you  many  thanks,  as 
well  in  the  name  of  the  corporation  of  our  college  as  in  my  own.  I  have 
not  had  leisure  to  peruse  many  of  the  pieces,  since  their  arrival,  but  from 
my  prepossession  in  favor  of  the  author,  and  from  what  I  have  read  of  his 
works,  I  am  confident  they  will  be  highly  agreeable  ;  so  that  you  might 
have  spared  everything  said  by  way  of  apology  for  them  on  that  account. 
19* 


MANNING  AND  CHAP.  TV. 

I  arn,  however,  greatly  obliged  to  you  for  the  information  you  give  con 
cerning  your  entering  the  ministry,  your  age,  situation  in  the  world  and 
in  the  church  of  God.  etc.,  etc.  Your  present  of  the  venerable  Bunyan's 
works  were  not  the  less  welcome  for  being  accompanied  with  the  agree 
able  present  from  the  Rev.  Abraham  Booth,  of  his  Reign  of  Grace,  and 
of  Mr.  Wilson's  Sermons.  I  must  trouble  him  with  a  letter  too. 

We  expect  next  spring  to  send  over  a  printed  account  of  the  rise  and 
present  state  of  the  college,  in  which  we  shall  give  an  account  of  the  man 
ner  of  donations  to  the  college  by  wills  ;  but  lest  that  should  come  too 
late,  I  here  send  the  name  by  which  it  is  known  in  law,  and  bv  which  it  is 
to  hold  donations,  until  some  more  distinguished  benefactor  shall  give  it  a 
new  one,  for  which  the  corporation  have  liberty  in  the  charter. 

"  Item.  I  give  to  the  the  Trustees  and  Fellows  of  the  College  or  Uni 
versity  in  the  English  Colony  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Planta 
tions,  in  New  England  in  America,  the  sum  of ." 

The  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  last  year 
or  the  year  before,  prescribed  a  form  of  bequeathment  to  them,  in  which 
they  say  :  "  To  be  raised  and  paid  by,  and  out  of  my  ready  money,  plate, 
goods,  and  personal  effects,  which,  by  law,  I  may  or  can  charge  with  the 
payment  of  the  same  ;  and  not  out  of  any  part  of  my  lands,  tenements,  or 
hereditaments,  and  to  be  applied  towards/5  etc.  The  particular  design 
must  be  expressed,  or  it  must  be  left  to  them  to  dispose  of  as  they  shall 
think  proper.  I  suppose  the  statute  of  Mortmane,  or  that  of  9th  of  George 
II.,  made  this  precaution  necessary.  But  as  our  friends  in  Great  Britain 
will  be  always  able  to  advise  with  those  who  are  skilled  in  these  matters, 
they  will  doubtless  put  it  out  of  the  power  of  any  to  defeat  their  benevolent 
intentions,  after  they  are  gone  to  the  eternal  world.  Pardon  my  being  so 
particular  on  this  point :  the  loss  of  sundry  donations  to  the  society  above 
mentioned,  published  in  their  extracts,  suggested  the  thought. 

When  our  account  of  the  college  comes,  we  shall  not  be  sparing  in 
numbers  to  be  distributed,  as  our  friends  judge  proper. 

I  wonder  that  Mr.  Backus  is  behindhand  with  you,  as  he  is  not  com 
monly  tardy  in  this  way.  He  is  an  excellent  man,  and  though  unfur 
nished  with  the  knowledge  of  letters,  has  been  an  eminent  instrument  in 
the  hando  of  God  to  spread  the  truth  in  this  country,  as  well  by  his  publi 
cations  as  by  his  preaching.  He  has  lately  published  an  appeal  to  the 
public  in  favor  of  the  Baptist  society  in  New  England ;  and  lie  is  now 
collecting  materials  for  the  history  of  the  Baptists.  I  will  forward  Mr. 
Edwards's  list  by  the  first  safe  conveyance. 


1770-1773.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 

Your  information  of  the  low  state  of  religion  amongst  us  is  but  loo 
true  !  May  the  Lord  in  mercy  visit  us.  I  travelled  this  fall  about  three 
hundred  and  fifty  miles,  and  visited  many  of  the  Baptist  churches.  In 
several  places  there  were,  I  thought,  evident  marks  of  the  power  of  God 
attending  gospel  means.  While  on  that  journey  I  baptized  four  persons. 
I  am  sorry  to  hear  of  the  decline  of  vital  godliness  in  old  England,  and  of 
the  prevalence  of  Anti-Trinitarianism,  or,  if  you  please,  infidelity.  I  be 
lieve  no  arguments  will  effectually  refute  that,  in  men  of  corrupt  minds, 
short  of  the  power  of  divine  grace,  for  a  day  of  which  I  need  not  solicit 
you  to  help  with  your  prayers. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  you  express  that  happy  degree  of  resignation  to  the 
will  of  God  in  your  bereaved,  afflicted  state.  Oh  that  blessed  word! 
"  Our  light  afflictions,"  etc.  May  God  grant  you  an  experience  of  its 
full  import,  make  your  last  days  your  best,  and  late,  very  late,  call  you 
home  from  earthly  labors  to  mansions  of  glory.  This  is  the  sincere 

prayer  of 

Your  most  unworthy  brother  in  the  gospel, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

We  close  this  chapter  with  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  Abra 
ham  Booth,  of  London,  proposing  an  "exchange  of  some 
letters."  Mr.  Booth  was  an  eminent  Baptist  minister  in 
his  day,  and  an  author  of  no  little  celebrity.  His  "  Reign 
of  Grace,"  "Pedobaptisrn  Examined,"  "Apology  for  the 
Baptists,"  "Essay  on  the  Kingdom  of  Christ,"  and  numer 
ous  other  religious  and  polemical  writings,  may  be  found 
upon  the  shelves  of  the  college  library.  Most  of  them  were 
republished  in  1813,  in  three  octavo  volumes,  with  a  me 
moir  of  the  author.  An  account  of  him,  compiled  from  this 
memoir,  is  given  in  Rose's  General  Biographical  Dictionary. 

NEWPORT,  Nov.  26,  1773. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

The  last  week  brought  your  agreeable  present  of  the  Reign  of  Grace, 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson's  Sermons,  a  present  to  our  college  library  ;  for 
which  the  corporation  have  ordered  me,  in  their  name,  to  return  you  their 
thanks  :  an  agreeable  task,  as  it  not  only  gives  me  an  opportunity  of  ex- 


224  MANNING  AND  BROWN  UNIVERSITY.       CHAP.  IV. 

pressing  my  gratitude  for  the  donation,  but  opens  a  door  for  me  to  ad 
dress  a  gentleman  and  brother  in  Christ  whose  character  has  often  been 
represented  to  me  in  so  amiable  a  light  that  I  should  think  it  a  happiness 
to  maintain  a  correspondence  with  you,  if  agreeable  on  your  part. 

It  gives  me  peculiar  pleasure  to  find  our  friends  in  Great  Britain  mind 
ful  of  this  infant  seminary.  It  greatly  needs  and  most  cordially  accepts 
their  patronage,  and  wishes  too  an  increase  of  benefactors.  I  hope  in  our 
turn  we  shall  show  all  proper  respect  to  all  its  friends  who  can  justly  have 
any  claim  upon  us. 

Should  it  be  agreeable  to  you,  sir,  to  exchange  some  letters,  you  will 
always  find  me  ready  to  execute  your  commands,  as  far  as  I  am  able. 
May  you  experience  in  your  soul  the  dominion  of  that  grace  you  have  so 
agreeably  described,  is,  dear  sir,  the  devout  wish  of 

Your  obliged  but  unworthy  brother, 

JAMES  MANNING. 


FIRST     BAPTIST    CHURCH,    PROVIDENCE,    R.    I. 
Erected  A.  D.  17'5. 


CHAPTER    V. 

1774-1779. 

Description  of  the  Baptist  meeting-house  at  the  time  of  Manning's  removal  to 
Providence— Church  and  Society  prosper  under  his  pastoral  care  — Resolve 
to  build  "  a  meeting-house  for  the  public  worship  of  Almighty  God,  and  also 
to  hold  Commencements  in  "  —  Committees  appointed  —  John  Brown  —  Lot 
tery  to  assist  in  defraying  the  expense  —  Raising  of  the  house  —  Dedication  — 
Description  of  the  building  and  grounds  —Letter  to  Rev.  Benjamin  Wallin  — 
Baptists  imprisoned  for  the  non-payment  of  rates  —  Letter  to  Rev.  John  Ry- 
land  — Manning's  illness  — His  narrative  of  the  college  —  Commencement  in 
1774  _  Barnabas  Binuey  —  Valedictory  oration  —  Letter  to  Thomas  Ustick  — 
Manning's  efforts  in  behalf  of  civil  and  religious  freedom  —  Congress  of  Del 
egates  meet  at  Philadelphia,  Sept.  5,  1774  —  Address  to  the  same  from  the 
Warren  Association  —  Backus  an  agent  to  said  Congress  —  Meeting  of  the 
Baptists  in  Philadelphia  — Conference  between  them  and  members  of  Con 
gress  _  Manning  addresses  the  Conference  and  reads  a  Memorial  —  Results  — 
Increase  of  Baptist  sentiments  throughout  the  land  —  Extract  from  letter  giv 
ing  Dr.  Stiles's  statements  in  regard  to  said  Conference  —  Petition  from  the  Sen 
ior  Class— Manning's  reply  — No  Commencement  in  1775  —  Reasons  —  Com 
mencement  in  1776—  Newport  taken  by  the  British  forces  —  Providence  under 
martial  law  — College  studies  suspended— College  building  occupied  by  the 
American,  and  afterwards  by  the  French  troops— Manning's  duties  at  this  time 

—  Letter  to  John  Ryland,  giving  a  picture  of  the  war  and  an  account  of  the 
progress  of  religion  in  the  land  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Benjamin  Wallin,  giving  an 
account  of  a  remarkable  revival  of  religion  in  the  church  and  College  — Wal- 
lin's  reply  —  Letter  of  sympathy  and  counsel  to  Miss  A.  Howard,  of  England 

—  Controversial  letter  on  Infant  Baptism,  to  Rev.  John  Berridge,  of  London 

—  Conduct  of  the  Episcopal  clergy  in  reference  to  the  war  —  Meeting  of  the 
Corporation  in  1777  —  Instance  of  Manning's  humane  disposition  —  Important 
civil  function  confided  to  him  — Anecdote  of  Manning  in  relation  to  the 
"Dark  Day"  — Letter  to  Rev.  Thomas  Ustick,  urging  him  to  open  a  Latin 
school  with  a  view  to  aiding  the  College  —  Letter  from  Judge  Howell  resign 
ing  his  Professorship. 

AT  the  time  of  Dr.  Manning's  removal  to  Providence, 
the  Baptist  church   were  worshipping  in  a  small  house, 


226  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  V. 

thirty-five  by  forty-one  feet  in  dimension,  erected  in  the 
year  1726,  on  the  corner  of  North  Main  and  Smith  Streets. 
The  lot,  which  was  seventy-seven  by  one  hundred  and 
twelve  feet,  was  partly  the  gift  of  the  Rev.  Pardon  Til- 
linghast,  a  former  pastor,  and  partly  the  purchase  of  the 
society.  The  following  description  of  the  building,  and  of 
the  mode  of  worship,  which  we  take  from  Stone's  Life  and 
Recollections  of  John  Howland,  will  be  found  interesting : 

"  At  high  water  the  tide  flowed  nearly  up  to  the  west  end  of  the  build 
ing.  There  were  no  pews.  From  the  front  door,  opening  on  Main  Street, 
an  aisle  extended  to  the  pulpit,  which  was  raised  three  or  four  steps  from 
the  floor.  On  each  side  of  the  aisle  benches  extended  north  and  south  to 
the  Avails  of  the  house,  and  there  were  benches  in  the  gallery,  which  was 

entered  by  narrow  stairs  from  a  door  on  the  south  side  of  the  house 

They  did  not  approve  of  singing,  and  never  practised  it  in  public  worship. 
When  more  than  one  elder  was  present,  and  the  first  had  exhausted  him 
self,  he  would  say,  *  There  is  time  and  space  left  if  any  one  has  further  to 
offer.'  In  that  case  another  and  another  would  offer  what  he  had  to  say  ; 

so  there  was  no  set  time  for  closing  the  meeting The  house  could 

not  contain  a  large  congregation,  nor  did  the  number  present  seem  to  re 
quire  a  larger  house,  as  they  were  not  crowded  though  many  of  them 
came  in  from  the  neighboring  towns,  on  horseback,  with  women  behind 
them  on  pillions." 

Under  the  pastoral  care  of  Dr.  Manning  the  church  and 
society  greatly  increased  in  numbers  and  efficiency,  so  that 
ere  long  it  became  necessary  to  erect  a  new  house  of  wor 
ship.  With  a  view  to  the  accommodation  of  the  college, 
it  was  determined  to  build  it  in  such  a  style  of  elegance, 
and  of  such  dimensions,  as  should  surpass  any  edifice  of 
the  kind  connected  with  the  Baptist  denomination  in  the 
colonies. 

In  looking  over  the  records  of  the  society,  we  find  that, 
at  a  meeting  held  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Daniel  Cahoon,  on 
Friday  evening,  Feb.  11,  1774,  it  was  — 


1774-1779. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  227 


"  Resolved,  That  we  will  all  heartily  unite  as  one  man,  in  all  lawful 
ways  and  means,  to  promote  the  good  of  this  society ;  and  particularly 
attend  to  and  revive  the  affair  of  building  a  meeting-house  for  the  public 
worship  of  Almighty  God,  and  also  for  holding  Commencements  in." 

In  accordance  with  this  resolve,  the  society,  with  una 
nimity  and  promptness,  entered  upon  the  prosecution  of 
their  labors.  A  committee  of  two  persons,  Messrs.  Joseph 
Brown  and  Jonathan  Hammond,  were  immediately  ap 
pointed  to  proceed  to  Boston,  "  in  order  to  view  the  dif 
ferent  churches  there,  and  to  make  a  memorandum  of  their 
several  dimensions  and  forms  of  architecture."  The  old 
house  and  lot  were  sold  at  public  auction,  and  the  ^resent 
spacious  lot,  bounded  by  Thomas,  Benefit,  President,  and 
North  Main  Streets,  was  purchased  by  Mr.  John  Angell. 
In  this  latter  transaction  very  important  service  appears 
to  have  been  rendered  by  Mr.  William  Russell. 

On  the  25th  of  April,  1774,  at  a  meeting  of  the  society, 
of  which  Dr.  Manning  was  moderator,  and  Benjamin 
Stelle  clerk,  it  was  resolved  — 

1.  That  a  petition  be  presented  to  the  honorable  General  Assembly, 
praying  that  a  charter,  containing  certain  privileges  and  immunities,  may 
be  granted  to  the  Baptist  society  in  Providence. 

2.  That  the  Rev.  James  Manning,  Ephraim  Wheaton,  Nicholas  Brown, 
David  Howell,  and  Benjamin  Thurber  be  a  committee  to  draft  a  plan  of 
a  charter,  and  present  the  same  to  the  society  for  approbation  as  soon  as 
may  be. 

3.  That  Mr.  John  Brown  be  the  committee-man  for  carrying  on  the 
building  of  the  new  meeting-house  for  said  society. 

4.  That  Messrs.  John  Jenckes,  Daniel  Cahoon,  Ephraim  Wheaton, 
Nathaniel  Wheaton,  Daniel  Tillinghast,  Joseph  Brown,  William  Russell, 
Edward  Thurber,  Nicholas  Brown,  Christopher  Sheldon,  and  Benjamin 
Thurber,  they  or  the  major  part  of  them,  be  a  standing  committee  to  as 
sist  and  advise  with  Mr.  John  Brown  in  locating  and  carrying  into  execu 
tion  the  building  of  the  new  meeting-house. 


228  M  A  X  N I  N  G    A  N  D  CHAP.  V, 

Thus,  while  a  large  committee  of  eleven  was  chosen  for 
assistance  and  advice,  the  carrying  on  of  the  building  and 
the  execution  of  the  plans  was  wisely  left  to  a  committee 
of  one.  There  was  hence  a  unity  of  purpose,  and  a  suc 
cess  in  the  final  results,  which  a  large  and  divided  com 
mittee  could  never  have  attained.  In  this  matter  our 
fathers  have  left  on  record  an  example  which  societies  of 
the  present  day  may  do  well  to  imitate.  It  is  pleasing  to 
notice,  in  this  record,  the  unlimited  confidence  reposed  in 
the  abilities  and  discretion  of  Mr.  Brown.  Had  there  been 
informers  in  those  days  of  trial  and  peril,  the  large  reward 
offered  by  the  British  Government  for  the  apprehension  of 
the  author  of  or  leader  in  the  destruction  of  the  Gaspee, 
two  years  previous,  might  have  seriously  interfered  with 
the  plans  of  the  society. 

In  order  to  defray  the  additional  expense  of  purchasing  a 
lot  and  of  building  a  house  sufficiently  large  to  accommo 
date  the  college,  recourse  was  had  to  a  lottery.  This,  as 
wo  have  already  remarked  in  a  previous  chapter,  was  in 
accordance  with  the  universal  practice  of  religious  societies, 
in  Ilhode  Island  and  elsewhere,  at  this  period.  The  lot 
tery  was  divided  into  six  classes,  the  time  and  place  of 
drawing  which  were  notified  from  time  to  time  in  the 
Providence  Gazette.  Eleven  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
seventy  tickets  were  sold,  at  prices  ranging  from  two  and 
one  half  to  five  dollars  each.  The  sum  proposed  to  be 
raised  by  this  scheme  was  two  thousand  pounds  lawful 
money,  or  about  seven  thousand  dollars.  The  managers 
appointed  by  the  General  Assembly,  were  Nicholas  Brown, 
John  Jenckes,  William  Russell,  Benjamin  Thurber,  Edward 
Thurber,  Nathaniel  Wheaton,  Daniel  Tillinghast,  William 
Holroyd,  James  Arnold,  and  Nicholas  Power.  In  their 
announcement  of  June  25, 1774,  they  ask  for  the  "  cheerful 


1774-1779.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


229 


assistance  and  encouragement  of  the  public,  especially 
when  it  is  considered  that  this  is  the  first  time  the  Bap 
tist  society  have  solicited  their  assistance  in  this  way, 
which  they  can  assure  them  would  not  now  have  been  the 
case  had  they  not  purchased  as  much  more  land,  and  de 
signed  a  house  as  much  larger  than  the  society  required  for 
their  own  use  (purposely  to  accommodate  public  Com 
mencements),  as  will  amount  to  the  full  sum  proposed  to 
be  raised  by  this  lottery." 

On  Monday,  Aug.  29,  was  the  "raising"  of  the  new 
meeting-house,  clue  notice  of  which  had  been  given  in  the 
papers.  A  large  crowd  assembled,  and  the  occasion  seems 
to  have  been  made  a  general  holiday  throughout  the 
town. 

During  the  following  year  the  house  was  so  far  com 
pleted  that  it  was  occupied  by  the  society.  It  was  opened 
for  public  worship  on  Sunday,  May  28,  1775,  when  Pres 
ident  Manning  preached  the  dedication  discourse,  from 
Gen.  xxviii.  17,  — "And  he  was  afraid,  and  said,  How 
dreadful  is  this  place  !  This  is  none  other  but  the  house  of 
God,  and  this  is  the  gate  of  heaven."  On  Tuesday,  June  6, 
the  raising  of  the  steeple,  which  occupied  nearly  four  days, 
was  finished.  The  plan  of  this  most  elegant  piece  of  archi 
tecture  was  taken  from  the  middle  figure  in  the  thirtieth 
plate  of  Gibbs's  "  Designs  of  Buildings  and  Ornaments," 
representing  the  steeple  of  St.  Martin's  in  the  Fields,  one 
of  the  finest  churches  in  London.1  It  measures  one  hundred 
and  eight  feet  from  the  top  of  the  tower,  and  one  hundred 
and  eighty-five  feet  from  the  ground  to  the  top  of  the  vane. 
The  total  height  of  the  steeple  is  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
six  feet.  The  house  itself  is  eighty  feet  square.  The  roof 
and  galleries  are  supported  by  twelve  fluted  pillars,  of  the 

1  See  Knight's  "  London  Illustrated,"  Vol.  V.  p.  195. 
20 


230  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  V. 

Doric  order.  The  weight  of  the  original  bell  was  two 
thousand  five  hundred  and  fifteen  pounds,  and  upon  it  was 
the  following  motto  :  — 

"  For  freedom  of  conscience  the  town  was  first  planted; 

Persuasion,  not  force,  was  used  by  the  people; 
This  church  was  the  eldest,  and  has  not  recanted, 
Enjoying,  and  granting,  bell,  temple,  and  steeple." 1 

Fronting  three  of  the  four  streets  that  surround  the 
house  is  a  door,  and  fronting  Benefit  Street  are  two  doors. 
Thus  on  Commencement  days,  and  on  other  public  occa 
sions,  it  can  be  easily  and  readily  vacated.  Mr.  Joseph 
Brown,  a  member  of  the  church,  was  the  principal  archi 
tect,  and  Mr.  James  Sumner  superintended  the  building. 
The  entire  expense  of  the  edifice  and  lot  was  upwards 
of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  When  we  consider  the 
value  and  scarcity  of  money  in  those  days,  the  perils  and 
dangers  of  an  impending  war  with  the  mother  country,  and 
also  the  fact  that  Providence  was  then  a  small  town,  con 
taining,  when  the  building  was  commenced,  a  population 
of  only  four  thousand  three  hundred  and  twenty-one,  ac 
cording  to  the  official  numeration  of  the  inhabitants,  we 
are  amazed  at  the  genius  which  could  conceive,  and  the 
energy,  enterprise,  and  skill  which  could  successfully  com 
plete  so  great  an  undertaking.  Even  at  the  present  day, 
the  venerable  structure,  with  its  tall,  graceful  spire,  and 
its  spacious  enclosure,  shaded  by  stately  elms,  constitutes 
one  of  the  chief  attractions  of  the  city.  In  the  beginning 
and  progress  of  this  enterprise,  we  have  an  illustration 
of  the  remarkable  influence  which  Manning  must  have 
exerted  over  the  people  of  his  care. 

i  Dissenters  in  Great  Britain  were  not  allowed  to  have  steeples  or  bells  to  their 
churches.    To  this  prohibition  reference  is  undoubtedly  bad  in  this  inscription. 


1774-1779. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  231 


Returning  now  to  our  correspondence,  we  find  under 
date  of  May  25,  1774,  a  brief  letter  addressed  to  the  Rev. 
Benjamin  Wallin :  — 

REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

Yours  of  February,  now  before  me,  was  very  acceptable,  as  also  the 
two  pamphlets ;  for  which  I  return  you  my  hearty  thanks.  Hope  the  sep 
aration  in  Dr.  Gill's  church,  although  attended  with  some  circumstances 
in  themselves  disagreeable,  may  eventually  prove  to  the  furtherance  of 
the  gospel. 

Any  apology  in  behalf  of  your  productions,  dear  sir,  is  perfectly  un 
necessary.  Mr.  Booth's  piece  has  not  yet  come  to  hand.  Please  to  make 
my  compliments  to  him,  and  to  any  others  who  may  inquire  after  your 
unworthy  friend. 

Mr.  Backus  is  now  raking  into  the  rubbish  of  time  to  collect  materials 
for  a  History  of  the  American  Baptists,  and  prosecutes  his  design  with 
great  assiduity. 

*  A  very  considerable  number  of  Baptists  were  last  winter  imprisoned, 
for  the  non-payment  of  their  rates  to  the  Presbyterians,  in  the  Colony  of 
Massachusetts  Bay; — very  ill-timed,  considering  their  contest  with  the 
British  Parliament  respecting  the  right  of  taxation,  and  the  measures  they 
might  have  guessed  would  have  been  pursued.  But,  alas  !  how  blind  are 
we  to  our  own  faults  ! 

I  expect  the  account  of  the  college  will  be  complete  this  summer,  and 
hope  you  may  not  be  disappointed  in  the  manner  of  its  execution.  We 
are  not  accustomed  to  write  for  the  public  eye.  When  done  they  will  be 
forwarded  to  England  with  all  speed.  A  grievous  diarrhoea,  for  several 
months  past,  has  put  it  out  of  my  power  to  contribute  my  assistance,  or  it 
would  have  been  more  forward  at  this  day.  I  heartily  thank  you  for  your 
good  wishes  for  me  and  for  the  seminary,  and  hope  the  institution  may 
prove  a  public  blessing.  Religion  is  in  a  flourishing  state  in  several  of 
the  places  around  us,  but  low  in  Providence.  May  the  Lord  revive  his 
own  work.  With  sincere  regards,  I  am,  dear  sir, 

Your  unworthy  friend, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

*  The  Baptist  committee  are  to  meet  at  Boston  to-morrow  on  this  busi 
ness.  If  no  redress  is  granted  from  government,  they  will,  I  suppose, 
apply  to  the  King  and  council  through  their  agents  in  London. 


232  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  V. 

TO    THE    KEY.    JOHN    KYLAND. 

NEWPORT,  May  27,  1774. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

Though  I  had  no  letter  from  you  by  the  last  vessels,  I  cannot  omit 
sending  you  a  line.  The  college  papers  have  been  retarded  by  my  indispo 
sition  through  the  past  winter.  An  obstinate  diarrhoea,  for  several  months 
together,  took  away  almost  all  hopes  that  I  should  ever  recover  my 
health,  and  prevented  my  attention  to  business  in  a  great  measure ;  but 
through  the  goodness  of  God  I  am  happily  recovered.  The  Anecdotes 
of  the  college  will  be  drawn  up  and  forwarded  as  soon  as  may  be,  and  the 
other  papers.  But  I  could  not  get  them  ready  by  this  opportunity.  This 
spring  I  received  from  Philadelphia  your  Cause  of  Deism  Ruined  Forever, 
etc. ;  and  according  to  the  directions,  forwarded  one  to  Harvard  College, 
Mr.  Stillman,  etc.  Return  my  hearty  thanks  for  the  one  presented  me, 
and,  in  the  name  of  the  corporation,  present  their  thanks  for  that  given  to 
our  college  library.  The  college  is  in  much  the  same  state  as  when  I 
wrote  last.  Religion  is  on  the  revival  in  some  places  in  New  England  ; 
but  great  calamities  seem  to  threaten  us,  in  consequence  of  the  dispute  re 
lating  to  taxation  ;  and  the  Lord  only  knows  when  this  dispute  will  end. 
I  think  it  incumbent  on  all  who  have  any  interest  at  the  throne  of  Grace, 
to  employ  it,  both  in  Britain  and  America,  that  God  would  pour  out  his 
Spirit  on  us  all,  and  heal  the  breaches  sin  has  made. 

I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  draw  on  Mr.  Ryland,  in  favor  of  Mr.  John 
Bi-own,  for  five  guineas,  as  usual.  My  Brother  Gano  has  returned  to  New 
York  from  a  tour  of  six  or  seven  months  through  the  Carolinas.  Have 
not  yet  seen  him,  but  am  informed  that  he  brings  good  tidings  respecting 
the  state  of  religion.  With  great  respect,  I  am,  sir, 

Yours,  etc., 

JAMES  MANNING. 

We  find  no  further  meniton  by  Dr.  Manning  of  his 
"  Anecdotes  "  or  "  Narrative  "  of  the  college.  His  ill  health 
at  this  time,  the  cares  and  anxieties  of  a  pastor  in  seasons 
of  revival,  and  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary 
War,  prevented  the  final  completion  of  his  literary  under 
taking.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  his  manuscript  papers 
have  not  been  more  carefully  preserved.1  Doubtless  there 

1  For  an  account  of  Manning's  papers,  see  Preface. 


1774-1779.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  233 

was  among  them  at  his  death  a  sketch  of  the  college, 
which,  if  not  completed,  would  at  least  have  thrown  light 
upon  much  that  pertains  to  its  origin  arid  early  progress. 

This  year  the  Commencement  was  held  for  the  last  time 
in  Mr.  Snow's  meeting-house.  Six  young  men  took  their 
Bachelor's  degree,  "  delivering  their  respective  parts  with 
that  dignity  and  propriety  which  acquired  them  the  ap 
plause  of  a  very  numerous,  judicious,  and  polite  assem 
bly."  "  The  company  of  cadets,"  says  the  Chronicle,  "  in 
uniforms,  made  an  elegant  and  truly  military  appearance ; 
and  both  in  the  procession  and  in  the  manoeuvres  which  they 
performed  on  the  college  green,  procured  universal  appro 
bation,  and  convinced  the  spectators  that  Americans  are 
no  less  capable  of  military  discipline  than  Europeans." 

Among  the  graduates  on  this  occasion  was  Mr.  Barna 
bas  Binney,  who  received  the  valedictory  honors  of  the 
class.  He  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.  In  early  youth  he 
discovered  a  ready  and  prolific  genius,  which  gave  promise 
of  usefulness  in  the  clerical  profession.  But  the  liberality 
of  his  ideas,  says  his  biographer,  rendered  it  incapable  for 
him  to  attach  himself  to  any  particular  sect,  and  hence  he 
could  never  be  prevailed  upon  to  assume  the  vows  and 
duties  of  a  professed  teacher  of  religion.  He  therefore 
perfected  himself  in  the  various  branches  of  medicine, 
and  finally  established  himself  as  a  physician  in  the  city 
of  Philadelphia.  Here  he  died,  in  the  month  of  June, 
1787. '  His  son,  the  Hon.  Horace  Binney,  is  now  the  Nes 
tor  of  the  Pennsylvania  bar,  and  ranks  among  the  most 
distinguished  lawyers  and  jurists  of  the  day.  The  vale 
dictory  oration  of  Mr.  Binney,  which  was  immediately 
published,1  was  universally  regarded  as  a  splendid  produc- 

1 A  copy  is  still  preserved  in  the  University  library.     The  following  is  the 
title :  "  An  Oration  delivered  on  the  late  public  Commencement  at  Rhode  Island 
20* 


234  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  V. 

tion.  After  the  usual  addresses,  it  discussed  fully  the  poli 
tics  of  that  eventful  period,  and  was  listened  to  with  the 
most  profound  attention.  The  merits  of  this  production 
were  greatly  enhanced  in  the  delivery  by  the  gracefulness 
of  the  orator,  and  the  uncommon  elegance  of  his  manners. 

Judge  Dorrance,  of  Providence,  was  a  member  of  this 
class.  Immediately  after  graduating,  he  was  appointed  a 
tutor,  and  for  many  years  during  the  latter  part  of  his 
life  he  was  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  University.  D  wight 
Foster,  whose  name  also  appears  in  this  connection,  was  a 
brother  of  the  Hon.  Theodore  Foster,  the  senator  from 
Rhode  Island.  He  settled  as  a  lawyer  in  Brookfield,  Mass., 
and  represented  his  native  State  as  a  senator  in  Congress 
from  1800  to  1803. 

The  following  letter,  directed  to  "Thomas  Ustick,  school 
master,  New  York,"  has  reference  to  this  Commencement. 
Mr.  Ward,  we  observe,  delivered  an  oration  for  the  Mas 
ter's  degree,  but  the  other  candidates  for  this  honor  took 
no  part  in  the  public  exercises. 

PROVIDENCE,  May  30,  1774. 

SIR  :  —  This  is  to  let  you  know  that  Messrs.  Ward  and  Arnold,  your 
classmates,  spent  this  evening  with  me  to  determine  their  Commence 
ment  exercises,  and  they  desired  me  to  ask  you  what  you  propose  to  do 
for  Commencement,  when  you  expect  to  be  at  Providence  to  prepare,  etc., 
etc.  These  things  you  are  desired  to  answer  by  the  first  opportunity.  I  had 
from  Ashford  in  Connecticut,  this  day,  an  application  for  a  Baptist  min 
ister.  I  mentioned  you  to  them  ;  and  desire  you  to  confer  with  Mr.  Gano 
on  the  subject,  that  he  may  bring  over  word,  when  he  comes.  Their 


College,  in  Providence,  September,  1774;  being  a  plea  for  the  right  of  private 
judgment  in  religious  matters,  or  for  the  liberty  of  choosing  our  own  religion; 
corroborated  by  the  well-known  consequences  of  priestly  power;  to  which  are 
annexed  the  valedictions  of  the  class  then  first  graduated.  By  Barnabas  Bin- 
ney,  A.B.  Boston:  1774."  The  oration,  with  the  illustrative  notes,  makes  a  small 
quarto  of  forty-four  pages. 


1774-1779.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


235 


start  for  a  Baptist  minister  is  a  new  thing  ;  but  they  subscribed  last  week 
near  £500  lawful  money  towards  building  a  meeting-house.  The  town  is 
large  and  rich,  and  I  am  told  that  full  one  third  have  declared  for  the 
Baptists  ;  and  that,  in  case  they  can  get  a  minister  of  abilities,  it  is  the 
general  opinion  that  much  above  half  the  town  will  attend  the  meeting, 
though  there  are  three  parishes  in  it.  The  richest  men  are  on  our  side, 
and  they  say  they  believe  in  supporting  the  minister  handsomely.  What 
say  you  of  visiting  them,  at  least,  as  soon  as  you  can  with  convenience  ?  I 
want  you  to  send  me,  by  the  first  opportunity,  two  dozen  grammars,  and 
I  will  satisfy  you  for  your  trouble.  Show  this  to  Mr.  Gano,  and  tell  him 
we  expect  him  over  very  soon,  and  also  Mrs.  Gano  and  the  children,  to 
spend  the  summer  with  us.  Tell  them  not  to  disappoint  us.  All  are  well 
with  us,  and  at  Middlcborough.  Mr.  Hinds  went  from  here  this  day. 
Enclosed  I  send  two  proposals,  etc.,  which  I  received  this  evening  from 
poor  Boston.  Please  hand  them  to  Mr.  Gano,  to  use  as  he  thinks  proper. 
It  is  now  almost  midnight,  and  I  can  hardly  see ;  besides,  I  have  told  Mr. 
Gano  all  I  know  in  a  letter  written  since  I  received  any  from  him,  or  I 
would  write  him  now.  There  are  thirty-five  or  thirty-six  students  in  col 
lege,  and  many  of  them  fine  young  men.  Tell  friends  they  are  remem 
bered  by 

JAMES  MANNING. 

The  correspondence  of  President  Manning,  it  will  be 
observed,  abounds  in  allusions  to  the  oppression  of  his 
brethren  in  Massachusetts  and  elsewhere,  on  the  part  of 
the  "  standing  order."  This  oppression  he  felt  called  upon 
to  resist  to  the  extent  of  his  ability.  To  his  intelligent 
and  active  exertions  in  behalf  of  religious  liberty  and 
equality,  we  of  the  present  day  and  generation  are  greatly 
indebted  for  what  we  now  enjoy  as  our  birthright. 

To  set  forth  in  detail  the  efforts  of  Manning  arid  his 
contemporaries  in  this  direction,  would  require  more  space 
than  can  be  allotted  to  our  present  work.  For  full  in 
formation  on  the  points  involved  in  this  controversy, 
the  reader  is  referred  to  Backus's  Church  History  of 
New  England,  and  especially  to  Prof.  Hovey's  Memoir 
of  the  Life  and  Times  of  Backus.  One  effort  of  Manning 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  V. 

demands  special  mention.  During  the  present  year,  which 
was  a  year  of  marked  importance  in  the  history  of  the 
country,  the  spirit  of  resistance  to  the  unjust  claims  of 
England  had  greatly  increased  among  all  classes  through 
out  the  land,  until  it  was  at  length  determined  to  unite 
the  separate  colonies  in  defence  of  their  common  rights. 
For  this  purpose  a  congress  of  delegates  met  in  Philadel 
phia,  on  the  5th  of  September,  1774.  To  this  meeting  it 
was  resolved  to  send  Mr.  Backus,  the  agent  of  the  Bap 
tist  churches,  to  see  if  something  could  not  be  done  to 
secure  rights  and  liberties  from  the  government  at  home, 
as  well  as  the  government  abroad.  Accordingly,  at  the 
anniversary  of  the  Warren  Association,  held  the  week  after 
Commencement,  the  following  certificate  was  given  : 

To  the  honorable  Delegates  of  the  several  Colonies  in  North  America, 

met  in  a  general  Congress  at  Philadelphia  : 

HONORABLE  GENTLEMEN  :  —  As  the  Anti-pedobaptist  churches  in 
New  England  are  most  heartily  concerned  for  the  preservation  and  de 
fence  of  the  rights  and  privileges  of  this  country,  and  are  deeply  affected 
by  the  encroachments  upon  the  same  which  have  lately  been  made  by 
the  British  Parliament,  and  are  willing  to  unite  with  our  dear  countrymen, 
vigorously  to  pursue  every  prudent  measure  for  relief,  so  we  would  beg 
leave  to  say  that,  as  a  distinct  denomination  of  Protestants,  we  conceive 
that  we  have  an  equal  claim  to  charter-rights  with  the  rest  of  our  fellow- 
subjects  ;  and  yet  have  long  been  denied  the  free  and  full  enjoyment  of 
those  rights,  as  to  the  support  of  religious  worship.  Therefore  we,  the 
elders  and  brethren  of  twenty  Baptist  churches,  met  in  Association  at 
Medfield,  twenty  miles  from  Boston,  Sept.  14,  1774,  have  unanimously 
chosen  and  sent  unto  you  the  reverend  and  beloved  Mr.  Isaac  Backus,  as 
our  agent,  to  lay  our  case,  in  these  respects,  before  you,  or  otherwise  to 
use  all  the  prudent  means  he  can  for  our  relief. 

JOHN  GANG,  Moderator. 
HEZEKIAH  SMITH,  Clerk. 

The  idea  of  sending  a  representative   to  this  congress 


1774-1779.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  237 

originated  with  Dr.  Manning,  Hczekiah  Smith,  John  Gano, 
and  others,  who  proposed  it  to  Mr.  Backus,  at  the  college 
Commencement.  Mr.  Backus,  having  thus  been  duly  ap 
pointed  by  the  Warren  Association,  set  out  for  Philadel 
phia  on  the  26th  of  September.  His  journey  occupied 
nearly  a  fortnight.  This  circumstance  is  here  mentioned 
to  show  what  travelling  facilities  were  in  those  days,  and 
what  sacrifices  were  sometimes  made  by  those  ministers 
who  attended  from  a  distance  the  meetings  of  the  college 
and  of  the  associations.  Upon  his  arrival  in  Philadelphia 
he  immediately  conferred  with  President  Manning,  and 
with  the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Association,  then  holding 
its  sessions  in  that  city. 

In  the  evening  of  Oct.  14,  says  Backus,  "  there  met  at 
Carpenter's  Hall,1  Thomas  Gushing,  Samuel  Adams,  John 
Adams,  and  Robert  Treat  Paine,  Esqrs.,  delegates  from 
Massachusetts ;  and  there  were  also  present  James  Kinzie 
of  New  Jersey,  Stephen  Hopkins  and  Samuel  Ward  of 
Rhode  Island,  Joseph  Galloway  and  Thomas  Miflin,  Esqrs., 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  other  members  of  Congress.  Mr. 
Rhodes,  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  Israel  and  James 
Pemberton,  and  Joseph  Fox,  Esqrs.,  of  the  Quakers,  and 
other  gentlemen  ;  also  Elders  Manning,  Gano,  Jones, 
Rogers,  Edwards,  etc.,  were  present.  The  conference  was 
opened  by  Mr.  Manning,  who  made  a  short  speech,  and 
then  read  the  memorial  which  we  had  drawn  up." 


1  "  On  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  September,  1774,  the  '  old  Congress,'  as  it  is 
now  familiarly  known  in  our  history,  commenced  its  sessions,  in  Carpenter's 
Hall  in  Philadelphia.  The  place  but  ill  corresponded  with  the  real  magnitude 
of  the  occasion.  No  tapestry  bedecked  its  walls,  no  images  of  sages  and  heroes 
of  other  days  looked  down  upon  the  scene.  Yet,  to  one  who  could  read  the  fu 
ture,  it  would  have  presented  a  simple  grandeur,  such  as  we  may  row  look  for 
in  vain  within  the  majestic  halls  of  \he  Capitol,  and  amidst  the  imposing  forms 
oi'the  Constitution."  —Prof.  GammeWs  Life  of  Governor  Ward. 


238  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  V. 

This  memorial,  which  maybe  found  in  Hovey's  Memoir, 
after  an  eloquent  plea  in  behalf  of  both  civil  and  religious 
freedom,  recounts  in  brief  the  various  acts  of  oppression 
which  the  Baptists  had  suffered  in  the  province  of  Massa 
chusetts  Bay,  commencing  with  the  charter  obtained  at  the 
"  happy  restoration."  What  part  Manning  had  in  the  draft 
ing  of  it  we  cannot  now  determine.  It  was  probably  the 
joint  production  of  several  hands.  The  introductory  plea 
and  the  closing  remarks  may  very  properly  be  attributed  to 
his  skilful  pen.  A  copy  was  afterwards  delivered  to  each 
of  the  delegates,  together  with  Mr.  Backus's  "  Appeal  to  the 
Public." 1  The  result  of  the  conference  was  not  at  all  sat 
isfactory,  John  Adams  remarking  that  we  might  as  well 
expect  a  change  in  the  solar  system  as  to  expect  that  they 
would  give  up  their  Establishment ;  or,  as  he  himself  gives 
the  account,2  "  they  might  as  well  turn  the  heavenly  bodies 
out  of  their  annual  and  diurnal  courses,  as  the  people  of 
Massachusetts  at  the  present  day  from  their  meeting-house 
and  Sunday  laws."  This  effort  of  Manning  and  his  asso 
ciates  was  nevertheless  the  means  indirectly  of  accomplish 
ing  great  good.  It  opened  the  minds  of  the  people  gen 
erally  to  a  knowledge  of  their  true  position  and  principles, 
and  prepared  the  way  for  the  astonishing  increase  of  the 
Baptists,3  and  for  the  remarkable  spread  of  their  sentiments 
throughout  the  land.  Doubtless  it  was  one  of  the  impor- 


1  The  following  is  the  title  of  this  pamphlet,  which  Backus  had  prepared  and 
published  the  previous  year:  "  An  Appeal  to  the  Public  for  Religious  Liberty, 
against  the  oppressors  of  the  present  day.  '  Brethren,  ye  have  been  called  unto 
liberty;  only  use  not  liberty  for  an  occasion  to  the  flesh,  but  by  love  serve  one 
another.'  Gal.  v.  13.  Boston:  Printed  by  John  Boyle,  in  Marlborough  Street, 
1773."  pp.  62.  A  copy  of  this  rare  pamphlet  is  in  the  library  of  the  University. 

8  See  Works  of  John  Adams,  Vol.  II.  p.  399. 

3  In  1764,  when  the  college  was  founded,  the  Baptists  in  all  America  numbered 
only  sixty  churches,  with  five  thousand  members  or  communicants.  The  lapse  of 
a  century  finds  them,  with  a  single  exception,  the  largest  denomination  of  evaii- 


1774-1779.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  239 

tant  agencies  which  slowly  and  silently  effected  a  change 
in  the  public  sentiment  of  Massachusetts  herself,  until,  in 
1833,  the  Bill  of  Rights  was  so  amended,  that  church  and 
state  were  separated  in  the  old  Commonwealth,  and  soul- 
liberty,  as  maintained  by  the  Baptists  of  every  age,  was 
finally  and  perfectly  secured. 

How  this  conference  of  the  Baptists  with  the  members 
of  Congress  was  regarded  by  their  opponents,  may  be  seen 
from  an  extract  from  a  letter  of  President  Manning,  dated 
Dec.  2,  1774,  which  we  quote  from  Ilovey's  Memoir  of 
Backus.  The  writer  states  that  the  following  assertions 
in  reference  to  said  conference  were  made  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Ezra  Stiles ;  namely :  — 

"  That  the  Baptists  had  made  an  application  to  the  Congress  against  the 
Massachusetts  Bay ;  that  the  delegates  of  that  province  expected  only  a 
private  interview  with  some  of  the  Baptists  ;  but  instead  of  that,  when 
they  came  they  found  a  house  full,  etc. ;  that  they  were  attacked  and 
treated  in  the  most  rude  and  abusive  manner  ;  that  the  Baptists  pre 
tended  they  were  oppressed,  but,  after  all  their  endeavors,  they  could  only 
complain  of  a  poor  fourpence ;  that  they  were  ashamed  of  their  errand, 
and  gave  up  their  point,  except  one  or  two  impudent  fellows,  who,  with 
Israel  Pemberton,  abused  them  in  a  most  scandalous  manner ;  that  all 
the  delegates  present  were  surprised  at  and  ashamed  of  them,  and  thought 
they  complained  without  the  least  foundation/'  etc.  Then  Dr.  Stiles 
added  :  "  When  we  have  the  power  in  our  own  hands,  ice  will  remember  them." 

gelical  Christians  in  the  United  States,  —  having  588  associations,  12,648  churches, 
and  1,037,576  communicants;  also  35  colleges  or  universities,  upwards  of  100 
academies,  13  theological  schools,  and  26  weekly,  monthly,  semi-monthly,  and 
quarterly  periodicals.  If  to  this  we  add  71,767  Baptists  in  Nova  Scotia,  New 
Brunswick,  Canada,  and  the  West  India  Islands,  and  499,941  in  the  United  States 
who  practise  immersion,  but  are  not  included  among  the  regular  Baptists,  we 
have  a  total  of  1,609,284  members,  being  an  increase  during  the  past  century  of 
more  than  a  million  and  a  half.  (See  the  American  Baptist  Almanac  for  1863. 
Also,  the  excellent  article  on  Baptists  in  the  "  New  American  Cyclopaedia,"  by 
the  llev.  Dr.  J.  N.  Brown,  of  Phhiladelpia,  and  a  paper  on  the  "  Growth  of  the 
Baptist  Denomination  in  this  Country  during  the  last  half  Century,"  read  by  the 
Rev.  Kendall  Brooks,  at  the  recent  Jubilee  Meeting  of  the  American  Baptist 
Missionary  Union.) 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  V. 

The  following  communication,  which  we  copy  from  the 
Providence  Gazette,  sufficiently  explains  the  position  of 
affairs  in  reference  to  the  Commencement  for  1775  : 

To  the  reverend  President,  honorable  Professor,  and  rest  of  the  honorable 
Corporation  of  Rhode  Island  College,  —  the  dutiful  petition  of  the  Sen 
ior  Class  : 

MOST  WORTHY  PATRONS  :  —  Deeply  affected  with  the  distress  of  our 
oppressed  country,  which  now,  most  unjustly,  feels  the  baneful  effects  of 
arbitrary  power,  provoked  to  the  greatest  height  of  cruelty  and  vengeance 
by  the  noble  and  manly  resistance  of  a  free  and  determined  people,  per 
mit  us,  gentlemen,  to  approach  you  with  this  our  humble  and  dutiful  peti 
tion,  that  you  would  be  pleased  to  take  under  your  serious  consideration 
the  propriety  of  holding  the  ensuing  Commencement  in  a  public  manner, 
as  usual ;  whether  such  a  celebration  of  that  anniversary  would  be  in  con 
formity  to  the  8th  Article  of  the  Association  formed  by  the  grand  Ameri 
can  Congress,  and  which  all  the  colonies  are  now  religiously  executing  ; 
and  that  you  would  be  pleased  to  signify  unto  us  your  resolution  respect 
ing  the  same,  that  we  may  govern  ourselves  accordingly. 

JOSIAH  READ,      ^        committee 
ANDREW  LAW,     L  in  behalf  of  the 
JAMES  FULTON,  J      Senior  Class. 
COLLEGE  IN  PROVIDENCE,  June  8,  1775. 

To  this  communication  the  President  and  Professor  thus 
reply :  — 

To  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  THE  SENIOR  CLASS  : 

GENTLEMEN:  —  Your  dutiful  and  reasonable  petition  has  been  duly 
attended  to ;  and  permit  us  to  assure  you,  that  it  gives  us  no  small  satis 
faction  that  the  present  members  of  this  institution,  and  particularly  the 
respectable  Senior  Class,  are  so  sensibly  affected  with  the  distresses  of  our 
country  in  its  present  glorious  struggles  for  liberty.  We  rejoice  that  you 
are  so  ready  to  sacrifice  that  applause  to  which  your  abilities  would  en 
title  you  at  a  public  Commencement ;  and  though  by  this  means  you  may 
be  deprived  of  an  advantageous  opportunity  to  give  proof  of  your  abilities 
in  pleading  the  righteous  cause  of  liberty,  for  which  your  predecessors  in 
this  institution  have  been  justly  celebrated,  yet  you  have  hereby  given  us 
a  convincing  proof  of  your  inviolable  attachment  to  the  true  interests  of 


1774-1779.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  241 

your  country.  Be  assured  that  we  shall  most  heartily  concur  in  this,  and 
every  other  measure  which  has  been,  or  may  be,  adopted  by  the  grand 
American  Congress,  as  well  as  the  Legislature  of  this  colony,  in  order  to 
obtain  the  most  complete  redress  of  all  our  grievances ;  and  deem  it  the 
greatest  honor  to  which  a  noble  and  generous  mind  can  aspire,  to  con 
tribute  in  any  degree  towards  a  restoration  and  reestablishment  in  our 
country  of  all  those  liberties  and  privileges,  both  civil  and  religious,  which 
the  Almighty  Father  of  the  universe  originally  granted  to  every  individ 
ual  of  the  human  race,  and  which  all  ought  to  enjoy  till  by  law  forfeited; 
which  reason  claims,  which  the  right  of  soil,  obtained  of  the  natives  by 
free  purchase,  settles  upon  us ;  which  our  charters  insure  to  us,  and  which 
have  been  recognized  by  Great  Britain,  and  guaranteed  to  us  by  the  faith 
of  the  English  nation.  These  inestimable  rights  and  privileges  our  coun 
try  has  for  many  years  enjoyed,  —  the  source  of  its  present  wealth  and 
strength,  more  than  its  fertile  soil  or  healthy  climate :  by  the  cruel  and 
wanton  invasion  and  violation  of  these,  she  now  bleeds  in  almost  every 
vein  ;  and  finally  it  is  these  that  her  noble  sons,  the  illustrious  American 
patriots,  prompted  as  well  as  justified  by  the  examples  of  heroes  in  all 
ages,  are  now  prepared  to  defend,  by  the  same  means  which  have  hitherto 
preserved  the  liberties  of  Great  Britain,  and  raised  to  royal  dignity  the 
House  of  Brunswick. 

And  though  the  din  of  arms  and  the  horrors  of  a  civil  war  should  in 
vade  our  hitherto  peaceful  habitations,  yet  even  these  are  preferable  to  a 
mean  and  base  submission  to  arbitrary  power  and  lawless  rapine. 

Institutions  of  learning  will  doubtless  partake  in  the  common  calamities 
of  our  country,  as  arms  have  ever  proved  unfriendly  to  the  more  refined 
and  liberal  arts  and  sciences  ;  yet  we  are  resolved  to  continue  college 
orders  here  as  usual,  excepting  that  the  ensuing  Commencement,  by  the 
advice  of  such  of  the  corporation  as  could  be  conveniently  consulted,  will 
not  be  public. 

JAMES  MANNING,  President. 
DAVID  HOWELL,  Philos.  Professor. 

COLLEGE  LIBRARY,  June  9,  1775. 

In  accordance  with  the  decisions  of  the  college  author 
ities  thus  announced,  and  for  the  reasons  assigned,  there 
was  no  public  Commencement,  although  the   graduating 
class  consisted  of  ten,  —  a  larger  number  than  any  hereto- 
21 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  V. 

fore.  The  battles  of  Lexington  and  of  Bunker  Hill  had 
electrified  the  public  mind,  and  turned  away  its  attention 
from  the  literary  performances  of  the  stage  to  the  sterner 
duties  of  the  field  and  the  camp.  A  prominent  member 
of  this  class  was  Pardon  Bowen,  who  afterwards  became 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  physicians  of  Providence. 
He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Rhode  Island  Medical 
Society,  and  for  seven  years  was  its  presiding  officer. 
Prof.  Goddard,  in  Thatcher's  Lives  of  Eminent  Physicians, 
has  paid  a  just  tribute  to  his  genius  and  worth.  In  this 
class  also  was  Robert  Rogers,  who  was  elected  to  the  fel 
lowship  in  1788,  and  who  is  said  to  have  attended  nearly 
every  Commencement  until  his  death,  in  1835.  For  sev 
eral  years  he  taught  a  classical  school  in  Newport,  which 
became  one  of  the  nurseries  of  the  college.  In  this  class 
also  was  Andrew  Law,  a  clergyman  who,  in  1820,  received 
the  degree  of  LL.D.  from  another  college.  The  meeting 
of  the  corporation  this  year  was  rendered  memorable  by 
the  election  of  John  Brown  as  treasurer,  the  duties  of 
which  office  he  discharged  with  great  ability  and  accept 
ance  for  a  period  of  twenty-two  years. 

The  next  year  Commencement  was  held  as  usual,  and, 
for  the  first  time,  in  the  new  Baptist  meeting-house.  Nine 
young  gentlemen  graduated  and  received  their  diplomas, 
among  whom  was  Daniel  Gano,  eldest  brother  of  Dr. 
Stephen  Gano,  Mr.  Manning's  successor  in  the  pastoral 
office. 

This  was  the  last  public  Commencement  held  during  the 
war.  On  Saturday,  Dec.  7,  following,  Sir  Peter  Parker, 
the  British  commander,  with  seventy  sail  of  men-of-war, 
anchored  in  Newport  harbor,  landed  a  body  of  troops,  and 
took  possession  of  the  place.  Providence  was  hence  all 
in  confusion.  Troops  were  massed  throughout  the  town, 
martial  law  was  proclaimed,  college  studies  were  inter- 


1774-177U.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  243 

rupted,  and  the  students  were  dismissed  to  their  respect 
ive  homes,  as  appears  from  the  following  notification  of 
the  President,  published  in  the  Providence  Gazette :  — 

This  is  to  inform  all  the  students  that  their  attendance  on  college  or 
ders  is  hereby  dispensed  with,  until  the  end  of  the  next  spring  vacation  ; 
and  that  they  are  at  liberty  to  return  home,  or  prosecute  their  studies 
elsewhere,  as  they  think  proper  ;  and  that  those  who  pay  as  particular 
attention  to  their  studies  as  these  confused  times  will  admit,  shall  then 
be  considered  in  the  same  light  and  standing  as  if  they  had  given  the 
usual  attendance  here.  In  witness  whereof,  I  subscribe, 

JAMES  MANNING,  President. 

PROVIDENCE,  Dec.  10,  1776. 

The  seat  of  the  Muses  now  became  the  habitation  of 
Mars.1  From  Dec.  7,  1776,  until  May  27,  1782,  the  course 
of  studies  was  suspended,  and  the  college  edifice  was  oc 
cupied  for  barracks,  and  afterwards  for  a  hospital,  by  the 
American  and  French  forces. 

Dr.  Manning  having  thus  far  discharged  his  arduous  and 
responsible  duties  with  unwearied  assiduity  and  the  most 
gratifying  success,  now  employed  this  interval  of  relaxa 
tion  from  collegiate  service  in  the  labors  of  the  ministry, 
and  in  various  acts  of  social  benevolence  which  the  per 
ils  and  distresses  of  that  period  in  our  national  history 
prompted  him  to  perform.  A  letter  to  his  friend  the  Rev. 
John  Ryland,  written  a  few  days  before  the  closing  of  the 
college,  gives  a  vivid  idea  of  the  war,  regarded  by  a  Chris 
tian  and  a  philanthropist :  — 

PROVIDENCE,  Nov.  13,  1776. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

After  a  long  interruption  of  our  correspondence,  an  opportunity  again 
offers  of  sending  you  a  line,  by  some  of  our  captive  brethren,  who  have 

1  Up  to  this  time  the  number  of  college  students  had  steadily  increased  from 
year  to  year.  In  1769  there  were  thirteen  students ;  in  1770,  twenty-one ;  in  1771, 
twenty-five;  in  1772,  thirty;  in  1773,  thirty-three;  in  1774,  thirty-four;  and  in 
1775,  forty-one  students.  These  facts  we  learn  from  a  paper  preserved  on  file  by 
Judge  Ho  well. 


244  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  V. 

liberty  to  return  directly  to  England.  The  bearer,  Mr.  Thomas  Macka- 
ness,  partner  with  Mr.  Thornton,  can  give  you  many  more  particulars  of 
our  affairs  than  I  can  by  a  letter. 

Since  I  wrote  you  last  I  have  seen  both  glorious  and  gloomy  days. 
The  winter  before  last  it  pleased  God  to  pour  out  his  Spirit  upon  the 
people  of  this  town  in  a  most  glorious  manner.  I  believe  about  two 
hundred  persons  were  converted  within  the  space  of  a  few  months.  I 
baptized  more  than  half  that  number  in  less  than  a  year.  But  the  fatal 
19th  of  April,  the  day  of  the  Lexington  battle,  like  an  electric  stroke 
put  a  stop  to  the  progress  of  the  work,  as  well  in  other  places  as  here. 
Oh  horrid  war  !  How  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  Jesus  !  May  you  never 
be  alarmed,  as  we  have  been,  with  the  horrid  roar  of  artillery,  and  the 
hostile  flames,  destroying  your  neighbors'  habitations.  These  I  have  re 
peatedly  seen  and  heard,  sitting  in  my  house  and  lying  in  my  bed.  I 
desire  to  bless  God,  these  scenes  of  carnage  always  appeared  peculiarly 
shocking  to  me,  and  I  feel  no  disposition  to  destroy  or  injure  my  fellow- 
men.  May  the  Lord  turn  the  hearts  of  all  to  himself !  and  then  I  know 
war  "will  instantly  cease.  The  scene  of  action,  in  a  hostile  way,  has  been 
at  the  distance  of  more  than  two  hundred  miles  from  me  this  campaign, 
and  I  could  wish  it  had  been  more  than  ten  thousand,  if  it  must  be  at  all. 
You  will  not  think  strange  that  the  colleges  have  suffered  greatly  by  this 
tremendous  convulsion  ;  though  I  believe  we  have  not  suffered  more  than 
our  neighbors.  Our  number  is  about  thirty;  but  the  high  price  of  every 
thing  amongst  us,  I  fear,  will  drive  some  of  the  students  away. 

For  more  than  a  year  the  state  of  religion  has  been  truly  lamentable, 
except  in  some  places  in  Connecticut.  But  there  are  pleasing  prospects 
opening  in  several  places  around  us  ;  I  think  there  are  some  favorable 
symptoms  in  my  congregation.  May  the  Lord  increase  these.  There 
have  been  seven  Baptist  ministers  ordained  in  New  England  since  last 
April,  and  about  that  number  of  churches  constituted  within  about  a  year. 
These  are  encouraging  circumstances  amidst  our  troubles. 

My  dear  Brother  Gano1  has  suffered  greatly  by  the  war,  and  where  he 
now  is  with  his  distressed,  numerous  family,  I  cannot  learn,  as  I  have 
never  had  a  line  from  him  since  ho  was  obliged  to  quit  New  York. 

1  Rev.  John  Gano.  He  served  as  chaplain  during  the  war,  and  by  Ms  patriotic 
counsels  and  earnest  prayers  did  very^nuch  to  encourage  the  officers  and  pri 
vates  of  the  American  army.  After  the  occupation  of  New  York  by  the  British, 
he  retired  with  his  family  to  a  farm  within  live  miles  of  Warwick,  near  the  New 
Jersey  line.  Mr.  Manning  visited  his  family  in  May,  1779,  as  we  learu  from  his 
diary  or  journal.  (See  Chapter  VI.) 


1774-1779. 


BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  2*45 


There  was  a  glorious  revival  of  religion,  last  winter,  at  Hopewell  in  the 
Jerseys.  Ninety  were  baptized  and  added  to  that  church  in  seven  months. 
I  have  heard  nothing  of  the  state  of  religion  from  the  southward  for  a 
long  time ;  but  I  fear  that  politics  and  war  have  not  promoted  it.  If  they 
have,  they  have  fared  better  than  New  England. 

Mr.  Mackaness  informs  me  that  there  is  a  glorious  revival  in  many 
parts  of  England,  especially  in  the  Establishment.  I  heartily  rejoice  to 
hear  the  news.  May  the  kingdom  of  the  Redeemer  come  throughout  the 
world  ! 

The  gentlemen  you  recommended  to  me  as  worthy  of  the  honors  of 
the  college  were  all  graduated ;  but  as  the  communication  was  shut  up 
their  diplomas  were  never  written  ;  and  as  I  have  but  short  notice  of  this 
opportunity,  and  as  there  is  no  parchment  in  the  country,  I  could  not 
forward  them  now.  But  I  hope  it  may  not  be  long  before  these  obstruc 
tions  may  be  removed. 

I  wish  you  great  success  in  your  labors  in  the  gospel,  and  many  crowns 
of  rejoicing  in  the  day  of  Christ  Jesus.  If  possible,  let  me  have  a  line 
from  you.  If  not,  grant  me  an  interest  in  your  prayers  at  our  Father's 
throne,  that  I  may  be  kept  in  the  day  of  temptation,  and  be  enabled  to 
fulfil  the  ministry  which  I  have  received.  With  great  respect,  and  many 
obligations,  I  remain,  dear  sir, 

Your  unworthy  brother  in  the  gospel, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

The  religious  awakening  to  which  Dr.  Manning  here  re 
fers  is  more  particularly  described  in  a  letter  to  the  Rev. 
Benjamin  Wallin,  dated  Nov.  12,  1776:  — 

REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR: 

It*  is  long  since  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  from  you,  or  an  op 
portunity  of  writing  to  you,  in  consequence  of  the  perilous  times  in 
which  we  live.  But  I  hope,  though  Great  Britain  and  America  are  at 
war,  that  the  saints  of  God  do  not  mean  to  wage  war  against  each  other, 
or  suffer  their  love  and  affection  towards  each  other  in  the  least  to  abate, 
because  a  wise  Providence  has  cast  their  lot  in  the  respective  contending 
countries.  I  do  not  think  it  the  business  of  the  ministers  of  Christ  to 
meddle  much  with  politics,  as  they  are  concerned  to  promote  a  kingdom 
not  of  this  world.  You  will  not,  therefore,  expect  anything  from  me  on 
21* 


246 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  V. 


this  subject,  except  so  far  as  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer  appears  to  be  af 
fected  by  the  alarming  aspect  of  public  affairs. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  winter  of  1774,  it  pleased  the  Lord  in  a  most 
remarkable  manner  to  revive  his  work  in  the  town  of  Providence,  and 
more  especially  among  the  people  of  my  charge.  Such  a  time  I  never 
before  saw.  Numbers  were  pricked  to  the  heart.  Our  public  assemblies 
by  night  and  by  day  were  crowded,  and  the  auditors  seemed  to  hear  as 
for  the  life  of  their  souls.  It  was  frequently  an  hour  before  I  could  get 
from  the  pulpit  to  the  door,  on  account  of  the  numbers  thronging  to  have 
an  opportunity  of  stating  the  condition  of  their  minds,  —  some  exulting  in 
the  love  of  God  and  speaking  of  a  precious  Jesus,  and  others  bewailing 
their  awful,  ruined  state,  and  asking,  "  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?  " 
My  dear  sir,  never  until  now  did  I  so  effectually  feel  the  insufficiency  of 
instruments  to  afford  f,hc  poor  sinner  the  least  help.  How  glorious  now 
to  view  the  all-sufficient  Saviour  !  There  I  would  stand  pointing  to  him, 
and  saying,  "  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world."  This  was  all  I  could  do.  Never  before  did  I  experience  such 
happy  hours  in  the  pulpit.  Day  and  night  my  dear  people  resorted  to 
my  house  to  open  to  me  the  state  of  their  souls,  insomuch  that  it  was 
with  difficulty  I  could  at  any  time  attend  to  secular  business;. and  I  think 
I  may  say  with  truth,  that  I  had  as  little  inclination  as  leisure  for  it,  fur 
ther  than  the  absolute  demands  of  duty  required. 

And  what  added  peculiarly  to  my  happiness  was,  that  the  Lord  visited 
the  college  as  remarkably  as  the  congregation.  Frequently,  when  I  went 
to  the  recitation-room,  I  would  find  nearly  all  the  students  assembled,  and 
joining  in  prayer  and  praise  to  God.  Instead  of  my  lectures  on  logic 
and  philosophy,  they  would  request  me  to  speak  to  them  of  the  things 
concerning  the  kingdom  of  God.  But  your  experience  in  the  service  of 
the  dear  Redeemer  will  enable  you  to  form  a  more  adequate  idea  of  the 
concomitant  circumstances  of  such  a  work  of  grace  than  I  can  here  com 
municate.  In  a  word,  the  mountains  seemed  to  melt  at  the  presence  of 
the  Lord  ;  the  pride  and  haughtiness  of  man  were  laid  low;  and  the  Lord 
alone  was  exalted.  In  the  space  of  about  six  months,  I  baptized  more 
than  one  hundred  persons.1  Many  were  also  added  to  the  other  churches 
of  the  town,  who,  I  believe,  were  first  added  to  the  Lord.  Thus  the  glo 
rious  work  continued,  and  rather  increased,  until  the  fatal  19th  of  April, 

1  Among  those  who  became  religious  at  this  time  was  Mrs.  Manning,  whom 
her  husband  baptized  iu  the  month  of  January,  1775. 


1774-1779. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  "247 


when  the  affair  at  Lexington  happened,  which,  like  an  electiic  shock, 
filled  every  mind  with  horror  and  compassion.  When  one  would  have 
thought  this  would  have  promoted  seriousness  amongst  us,  it,  strange  to 
toll,  operated  the  very  reverse  ;  for  since  the  fatal  day  languor  and  abate 
ment  of  zeal  for  God  seem  greatly  to  have  obtained,  and  instances  of 
conversion  to  Christ  are  rare.  Yet  I  hope  our  affairs  are  now  somewhat 
improving.  I  have  often  labored  to  investigate  the  cause  of  the  almost 
universal  decline  of  vital  godliness  amongst  us  since  the  commencement 
of  this  unhappy  war,  but  can  find  no  other  than  that  war  is  in  its  nature 
a  hardening  judgment.  I  have  heard  of  and  know  many  places  where 
the  Lord  by  his  Spirit  appeared  to  be  at  work  when  hostilities  com 
menced,  and  in  every  instance  the  work  immediately  abated.  In  one  in 
stance  only  were  they  made  the  means  of  any  considerable  awakening. 
Yet,  blessed  be  God  !  the  dews  of  divine  grace  have  distilled  gloriously  in 
many  places,  and  reformations  arc  commencing.  I  know  you  will  heartily 
join  at  the  throne  of  grace  that  Christ's  kingdom  may  so  come  in  both 
countries,  yea,  in  all  the  world,  that  war  may  cease  from  the  ends  of  the 
earth.  I  expect  Mr.  Thomas  Mackaness,  merchant  in  partnership  with 
Mr.  Thornton,  will  hand  you  this.  He  has  been  a  great  sufferer  by  hav 
ing  been  taken  on  his  voyage  to  Quebec,  in  consequence  of  which  he  lost 
vessel  and  cargo.  He  can  give  further  information  concerning  me,  if  you 
desire.  With  sincere  regards,  I  am,  dear  sir, 

Your  friend  and  unworthy  brother, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

The  following  reply,  the  last  letter  from  Wallin  ever 
received  by  Manning,  shows  that  war  had  not  alienated 
all  our  English  friends.  This  fact  is  delightfully-  evident 
in  the  correspondence  of  a  later  period. 

MAZE  POND,  SOUTHWAEK,  Aug.  30,  1777. 
KEVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

I  embrace  the  opportunity  of  acknowledging  your  very  acceptable  fa 
vor,  which  came  to  hand  in  January  last.  Oh  the  wonders  of  Omnipotent 
love  !  Peace  on  earth  and  good-will  to  men,  dispensed  by  the  everlasting 
gospel  in  a  rebellious  world,  like  the  antediluvian,  corrupt  before  God, 
and  filled  with  violence  !  It  is  the  Lord's  doings,  and  marvellous  in  our 


248  MANN  ING    AND  CHAP.  V. 

eyes.  Your  striking  account  of  the  heavenly  visitation  on  the  church  and 
college  over  which  you  preside  filled  me  with  gratitude  and  joy,  as  it  did 
my  people,  and  indeed  many  others,  ministers  and  respectable  individuals, 
from  whom  I  could  not  conceal  the  glad  tidings.  They  proved  as  cold 
waters  to  a  thirsty  soul.  Dear  sir,  if  you  would  have  such  good  news  a 
secret,  you  must  not  trust  a  man  with  it  who  wishes  to  spread  abroad  the 
salvation  of  God,  that  all  who  love  it  may  have  continual  occasion  to  glo 
rify  his  name.  Many  thanksgivings  redounded  to  the  King  of  all  grace 
upon  a  rehearsal  of  this  glorious  display  of  his  mercy,  —  an  evidence  this 
of  a  genuine  love  among  the  saints  whose  lot  is  cast  in  the  respective  con 
tending  countries,  originally  united,  now  waging  war,  to  the  grief  of  all 
who  wish  well  to  Great  Britian.  What  stronger  proof  of  this  divine 
grace  than  a  free  communication  and  an  unfeigned  great  joy  in  each 
other's  prosperity  ! 

It  would  be  pleasing  to  return  a  similar  account  from  the  mother  coun 
try,  but  the  state  of  religion  is  not  so  delightful  and  promising.  Indeed, 
many  preachers  go  forth,  and  the  number  of  hearers  increases,  but  it  is  not 
so  strictly  in  the  way  of  the  Lord  as  I  could  wish.  It  seems  to  me  vain 
glorious,  and  in  some  respects  tending  to  confusion,  of  which  God  is  not 
the  author.  Among  the  Episcopalians  who  have  any  idea  of  gospel  truth 
(though  I  think  for  the  most  part  they  are  rather  superficial),  their  way  is 
to  open  a  chapel,  as  they  style  it,  and,  having  drawn  an  audience,  they 
are  fixed  at  a  custom-rate  for  their  seats.  On  this  plan  many,  and  some 
of  them  sumptuous  buildings  have  been  erected,  to  which,  by  report, 
great  numbers  resort.  I  would  hope  by  this  means  some  may  be  led  into 
a  saving  knowledge  of  Christ,  and  so  far  I  rejoice ;  yet  I  cannot  but  la 
ment  the  tending  and  the  effect  of  this  carnal  contrivance  and  vague  kind 
of  social  religion  to  the  accommodation  of  man  and  the  neglect  of  all 
gospel  order.  A  becoming  zeal  for  this  is  now  a  matter  of  reproach  with 
many  among  us,  insomuch  that  the  enlightened,  who  wish  to  be  conformed 
to  the  positive  institutions  of  the  Redeemer,  are  under  great  discourage 
ments,  and  few  join  the  regular  churches  of  any  denomination ;  so  that  a 
godly  discipline  in  particular  communion  is  in  a  manner  out-of-doors. 
The  consequence  of  all  this  will,  I  fear,  be  a  still  greater  declension  from 
real  and  practical  piety.  The  Baptists  more  especially  are  obnoxious  to 
these  popular  gentlemen,  of  which  a  specimen  has  lately  transpired  in  an 
abusive  pamphlet,  by  a  warm-spirited  young  clergyman.  Irritated  by 
some  altercations  on  a  late  baptizing  in  the  parish  of  his  vicarage,  he  has 
fallen  foul  on  me  for  my  little  address  to  the  churches  of  the  Congrega- 


1774-1770.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  219 

tional  order,  — the  first  edition  of  which  you  have  in  a  volume  of  mine. 
This  piece  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  point  in  debate,  and,  being  anony 
mous,  was  by  many  ascribed  to  a  person  of  the  Independent  persuasion 
before  the  author  was  discovered.  This  man  holds  me  up  to  the  public 
as  a  masterpiece  of  bigotry,  and  an  enemy  to  all  Pedobaptist  communion, 
and  at  the  same  time  pretends  to  much  candor. 

This  newly-adopted  mode  has  already  emboldened  some  froward  men  to 
set  up  for  themselves,  under  the  color  of  Protestant  dissenters ;  and,  among 
the  rest,  lately,  one  Mr.  Dawson,  a  Sabbatarian  Baptist,  not  long  since  in 
New  England.  Alas  !  these  men  make  a  trade  of  religion  !  It  likewise 
favors  party  divisions  in  church,  too  frequent,  and  which  now  for  the  most 
part  end  in  grievous  and  shameful  separations,  to  the  prejudice  of  broth 
erly  love  ;  it  being  the  taste  of  the  day  to  follow  new  societies  and  teach 
ers.  This  is  a  melancholy  case ;  for  we  know  by  the  disciples  at  Corinth 
that  in  this  carnal  spirit  there  is  little  regard  to  the  power  and  grace  of 
God  in  the  increase  of  his  church. 

As  to  my  congregation,  they  are  in  general  steady,  and  our  church 
state  gradually  advances.  Of  late  we  have  been  favored  with  some  re 
markable  instances  of  conversion  ;  among  others,  last  month  I  baptized 
four  young  persons  of  one  family,  brothers  and  sisters  in  the  flesh,  the 
children  of  a  deacon  lately  deceased,  who  was  the  second  person  that 
passed  under  my  hands.  This  was  in  the  year  1741.  Their  grandfather 
and  grandmother  were  also  valuable  members  of  the  church  some  years 
after  I  succeeded  my  honored  father  in  the  pastoral  charge.  The  Lord  will 
not  fail,  but  may  exceed  the  terms  of  his  promise.  His  grace  is  not  bound. 
You  will  not  wonder  at  the  joy  of  the  brethren  on  this  singular  occasion. 

I  fear  the  Papists  take  advantage  of  our  civil  and  religious  confusion. 
According  to  some  there  are  alarming  symptoms  of  their  increase  in 
our  nation  and  cities.  Indeed,  unknown  and  disorderly  societies  but  too 
much  favor  their  design,  while  the  political  sentiments  of  many  Protes 
tants  are  a  hinderance,  at  least,  to  their  social  prayers.  But  with  our  God 
nothing  is  impossible.  May  he  pour  out  the  Spirit  from  on  high  on  both 
countries,  and  graciously  restore  our  public  tranquillity  on  an  honorable 
and  permanent  foundation  ;  and  may  you,  dear  sir,  enjoy  many  happy 
hours  in  the  closet  and  in  the  pulpit,  and  again  be  employed  in  a  field 
white  for  harvest,  as  in  the  year  1775. 

As  for  me,  my  age  and  infirmities  promise  little  further  capacity  for 
usefulness.  Infinite  are  the  obligations  upon  me  for  the  grace  by  which 
I  have  been  sustained  thirty-seven  years  in  the  arduous  work  of  the  minis- 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  V. 

try.  Our  great  Divine  Master  doth  riot  cast  off  his  old  servants ;  yet  the 
prayers  of  my  brethren  may  subserve  to  a  finish  with  joy ;  a  request,  I  am 
persuaded,  you  will  not  deny  me. 

Having  the  honor  of  a  place  in  your  library,  it  seemed  decent  to  present 
a  copy  of  another  attempt  since  my  last.  Parents,  you  know,  sir,  oft  show 
their  vanity  in  dressing  up  their  children.  Excuse  the  uniform  of  the 
eleventh  volume.  It  comes  in  expectation  of  the  same  kind  reception 
with  that  of  its  preceding  companions.  If  any  hints  concerning  parables 
in  general,  or  that  in  particular  which  is  the  subject  in  hand,  prove  per 
tinent  and  useful,  the  author  flatters  himself  that  some  other  pen  may 
improve  them  to  public  advantage. 

For  an  increase  of  the  church's  prosperity  and  a  period  to  the  national 
trouble,we  unite  in  our  prayers  to  the  Most  High,  with  which  I  conclude. 
Dear  sir, 

Your  very  obliged  and  affectionate  Brother, 

BENJ.  WALLIN. 

P.  S.  —  The  copy  on  The  Prodigal  presented  to  the  college  with  my 
most  respectful  compliments  to  the  venerable  members,  if  it  be  needful  to 
mention  so  trifling  a  matter  to  them,  was  bound  in  readiness  soon  after 
the  publication.  My  notice  of  this  opportunity  was  short,  which  it  is 
hoped  will  apologize  for  the  mourning  dress  of  those  directed  to  you  and 
the  other  gentlemen,  on  whose  candor  in  perusing  them  I  rely.  If  by 
any  means  you  can  inform  me  of  the  arrival  of  these,  it  will  be  acceptable. 
Before  the  present  interruption  to  our  intercourse  took  place,  I  was  in 
expectation  of  soon  receiving  a  digested  and  authentic  account  of  your 
college,  which,  I  hope,  will  survive  the  civil  commotions,  and  prove  a 
flourishing  seminary  of  learning  under  your  direction.  If  this  design  is 
carried  into  execution,  I  hope  to  be  presented  with  some  copies  the  first 
opportunity. 

The  following  letter,  addressed  to  Miss  A.  Howard,  in 
Scarboro,  England,  illustrates  the  peculiar  tact  and  deli 
cacy  of  Dr.  Manning  in  his  efforts  to  alleviate  the  dis 
tressed,  and  to  give  sympathy  and  counsel  to  the  bereaved 
and  unfortunate.  In  a  footnote  he  remarks  that  the  letter 
actually  sent  to  Miss  Howard  was  greatly  altered  and  en 
larged  from  this,  which  seems  to  be  the  first  copy.  Capt. 


1774-1779.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  251 

Bell,  it  appears,  was  taken  with  his  vessel,  by  some  of  our 
cruisers,  and  brought  into  Providence,  where  he  died.  He 
was  engaged  to  be  married  to  the  lady  in  question,  who, 
as  will  be  observed,  was  an  entire  stranger  to  Manning. 

PROVIDENCE,  NEW  ENGLAND,  Nov.  19,  1776. 
DEAR  MADAM  : 

I  hope  you  will  excuse  the  forwardness  of  a  stranger  in  addressing  a 
line  to  you,  when  I  inform  you  of  the  amiable  character  given  you  by  my 
dear  unfortunate  friend,  Mr.  Thomas  Mackaness ;  as  also  from  the  sym 
pathetic  feelings  of  my  heart  under  the  distress  which  the  news  of  the 
unexpected  and  truly  lamentable  death  of  the  dear  Capt.  Bell  must  occa 
sion,  especially  considering  the  endearing  relation  which,  I  am  informed, 
he  soon  expected  to  stand  in  to  you.  Horrid  war !  What  havoc  dost 
thou  make !  To  glut  thy  rage,  must  the  youthful,  amiable,  virtuous,  and 
what  exceeds  all  these,  must  the  singularly  pious  Bell  fall  a  victim  to  thy 
relentless  stroke  !  Must  the  hearts  of  tender  parents  bleed  ?  Must  more 
than  half  of  all  your  happiness  on  earth  perish  ?  Must  the  dear  bereaved 
church  at  Hull  be  bathed  in  tears  ?  Must  the  tender  orphans,  his  peculiar 
care,  bewail  the  loss  of  their  kindest  benefactor,  under  thy  unnatural 
domain '? 

But  why  do  I  open  afresh  the  wounds  which,  long  ere  this  arrives,  have 
often  bled  1  You,  doubtless,  have  oft  portrayed  the  bliss  of  the  intended 
conjugal  relation,  and  recounted  the  joys  of  such  a  virtuous  connection, 
which,  by  a  stroke,  is  now  all  blasted,  and  you  sit  solitary  as  one  forsaken, 
and,  in  the  plaintive  strain  of  the  sweet  singer  of  Israel,  cry,  Lover  and 
friend  hast  thou  removed  from  me,  and  mine  acquaintance  into  darkness. 
"I  shall  no  more  see  good  in  the  land  of  the  living."  But  stop,  my 
friend !  Why  these  unavailing  sighs  1  For  whom  do  you  thus  lament  ? 
Is  it  for  him  who  was  so  fully  ripe  for  heaven,  that  earth  was  no  longer 
for  him  a  fit  habitation,  —  for  him  whose  heart  and  conversation  were  so 
in  heaven,  that  the  Redeemer  chose  to  receive  him  to  that  society  where, 
unmolested,  he  might  sing  those  songs  of  praise,  and  give  full  scope  to 
that  ardor  of  spirit,  which  he  had  here  so  oft  attempted,  and  so  uniformly 
felt  ?  True,  the  loss  to  you  is  great ;  but  greater  far,  to  him,  the  gain. 
And  could  you  wish  to  disengage  him  from  that  blessed  employment,  — 
from  that  glorious  society  for  which  you  long,  and  where  you  hope  to 
bear  a  part  in  those  anthems  of  praise  to  God  and  the  Lamb  forever  ? 


252  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  V. 

Can  you  desire  that  he,  disengaged  from  every  earthly  clog,  should  again, 
for  many  painful  years,  groan  under  the  weight  of  a  body  of  death,  and 
see  the  object  of  his  highest  love  through  faith's  dim  medium,  as  we  do 
now,  and  mourn  his  absence  from  our  Father's  house,  —  and  all  this  to 
gratify  and  assist  you  through  this  painful  journey  home  to  glory  ?  No, 
madam ;  both  reason  and  religion  forbid  this  selfish  passion  ;  and,  pain 
ful  as  the  thought  of  separation  is,  I  know  your  generous  soul  can't  wish 
it.  You  only  mourn  that  you  arc  left  behind,  and  that  our  degenerate 
world  has  lost  his  bright  example.  But  remember  that  he  has  left  you  in 
better  hands,  —  that  the  swift-revolving  years  will  soon  land  you  at  the 
same  peaceful  haven,  where  not  only  he  but  Jesus  waits  to  welcome  trav 
ellers  home.  Instead  of  pensive  sadness,  then,  cheer  up,  and,  as  the  poet 
sung,  let  us  go  singing  on.  It  will  render  the  journey  less  painful ;  and 
perhaps  more  than  half  the  way  is  passed.  Remember  that  now  your  at 
tachment  to  heaven  is  stronger  than  ever.  There  your  best  friend,  your 
kindred  dwell,  there  God  your  Saviour  reigns.  May  he  grant  you  his  divine 
presence  to  support  you  under  the  sore  affliction,  and  abundantly  sanctify 
his  hand  to  you,  that  you  may  be  more  and  more  prepared  for  glory. 
Had  I  great  interest  at  a  throne  of  grace,  you  should  not  want  a  share  of 
it ;  for  I  think  if  joining  in  your  sorrow  and  mingling  a  friendly  tear 
will  alleviate  your  grief,  I  have  borne  a  part  for  you. 

Since  the  ship  was  taken  and  brought  in  here,  I  have  often  thought  I 
should  have  been  peculiarly  happy  had  it  been  the  will  of  Heaven  to  have 
spared  the  life  of  the  dear  man  whose  untimely  death  more  than  British 
friends  lament.  But  here  I  find  my  want  of  submission  to  the  will  of  God  ; 
for  I  am  only  happy  when  from  the  heart  I  can  say  to  God,  Thy  will  be 
done. 

Probably  I  shall  never  see  your  face  in  the  flesh ;  but  should  this  hap 
piness  be  denied  me,  I  hope  to  see  you  where  there  shall  be  no  more  sor 
row  nor  sighing  ;  where  God  shall  wipe  away  every  tear  from  our  eyes  ; 
where  we  shall  see,  not  only  the  dear  man  whom  we  lament,  but  all  the 
saints  on  earth,  with  those  uncalled  as  yet,  with  Abraham,  Isaac,  and 
Jacob,  with  the  apostles  and  prophets,  and  the  general  assembly  of  those 
whose  names  are  written  in  heaven,  with  Jesus,  the  mediator,  at  their 
head,  and  God  the  Judge  of  all.  Oh  !  what  a  glorious  day  when  we  shall 
rise  to  this  exalted  station  !  My  dear  friend,  let  us,  then,  walk  worthy  of 
such  a  calling ;  that  whether  we  are  absent  or  present  in  body,  we  may  be 
present  with  the  Lord.  And  here,  I  recollect,  we  may  have  an  interview ; 


1774-1779.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  253 

I  mean  at  the  throne  of  grace.     Wishing  you  the  highest  possible  happi 
ness,  1  subscribe  myself,  madam, 

Your  friend  and  servant, 

JAMES  MANNING. 


The  folio  wing  letter  to  the  Rev.  John  Berridge,  of  Lon 
don,  shows  Dr.  Manning  in  the  light  of  a  controversialist. 
How  skilfully  he  could  handle  the  weapons  of  polemic 
warfare,  will  best  be  learned  from  its  perusal.  The  pun 
gency  of  its  wit,  the  force  of  its  argument,  and  the  excel 
lence  of  its  style  and  spirit,  amply  compensate  for  its 
unusual  length. 

PROVIDENCE,  NEW  ENGLAND,  Nov.  19,  1776. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

Lately,  through  the  kindness  of  my  friend  Mr.  Thos.  Mackaness,  of 
London,  I  had  the  perusal  of  the  "  Christian  World  Unmasked.  Pray, 
Come  and  Peep.  By  John  Berridge,  A.M.,  etc."  8vo.  Lond.  1773.  I 
accepted  the  invitation,  and  found  the  book  in  general  corresponded  well 
to  the  titlepage,  until  I  came  to  pp.  223-5,  inclusive,  when  I  peeped 
again,  but  could  not  discover  the  least  gleam  of  light,  and  therefore  con 
cluded  the  mask  was  in  the  way ;  when,  lo  !  I  turned  to  my  New  Testa 
ment,  and  found  that  light  which  is  concealed  by  a  veil  while  AVO  search 
the  Old  for  New  Testament  ordinances.  Ay,  Baptist,  Baptist;  I  thought 
you  was  a  water-fowl  when  you  referred  to  the  pages.  Well,  be  it  so  ;  if 
he  can  be  an  instrument  to  pick  open  your  eyes  a  little  wider,  I  hope  you 
will  have  no  objection  to  him  on  that  account.  You  say,  "  I  would  hate  no 
man,  and  do  condemn  no  man  for  thinking  differently  in  this  matter." 
Now  if  you  mean  to  place  the  emphasis  on  thinking,  I  think  I  shall  not 
fare  well  for  saying  differently.  However,  as  you  have  made  very  free 
with  the  Grazier,  I  hope  I  may  with  the  Doctor,  upon  the  same  principle, 
without  offence. 

You  say  that  you  have  no  doubt  that  infant-baptism  is  attended  with 
the  same  blessing  now  that  infant-circumcision  was  formerly.  Both  the 
ordinances  are  of  God's  appointment,  etc.  Till  now,  I  find  you  produc 
ing  plain  Scripture  warrant  for  the  glorious  doctrines  you  advance.  And 
must  we  onlj  rely  upon  the  Doctor's  bare  word  for  the  truth  of  this  last 
22 


MANNING  AND  CHAP.  V. 

assertion  ?  What  shall  I  say,  then,  to  that  voice  I  hear  from  Heaven, 
"  Tlds  is  my  beloved  Son,  hear  ye  him,"  and  that,  too,  in  the  presence  of 
Moses  and  Elias  ?  Pray,  Doctor,  have  me  excused  till  you  point  me  to 
the  page  where  this  great  prophet  authorizes  you  to  say  this.  I  have 
carefully  examined  the  dispensatory,  but  can  find  no  such  prescription 
between  the  lids  of  it.  You  ask  why  Christian  children  may  not  be  re 
ceived  into  the  church's  fold  by  baptism,  as  were  the  Jewish  by  circum 
cision.  Answer  :  The  former  was  by  God's  special  appointment,  but 
not  the  latter.  Surely,  then,  wide  is  the  difference  in  their  case.  To  say 
nothing  is  said  to  forbid  them,  is  not  sufficient  to  a  truly  Christian  Protes 
tant  doctor  ;  for  if  it  is  necessary,  totidem  verbis,  for  the  Scripture  to  forbid 
everything  practised  under  the  name  of  Christianity,  which  is,  notwith 
standing,  contrary  to  the  true  genius  of  the  gospel,  it  would  require  a 
Bible  ten  times  as  large  as  Dr.  Gill's  Exposition  of  it.  And  then  what 
should  we  field-preachers  and  the  recruiting  sergeants  of  the  country  do  ? 
But  pray,  Doctor,  is  baptism  a  moral  precept,  or  an  institution  purely 
positive  ?  If  the  latter,  why  need  we  wreck  and  torture  our  brains  to  find 
a  reason  for  either  mode  or  subjects,  time  or  place,  or  anything  further 
than  what  the  New  Testament  simply  informs  us  concerning  it,  as  there 
is  the  only  place  where  we  should  look  for  it  1  Or  why  need  we  be  dis 
tressed  how  little  children  should  be  brought  to  Christ,  while  he  has  not 
seen  fit  to  teach  us  the  way  in  which  it  should  be  done  ? 

In  the  next  paragraph,  you  say  that  children  dying  unbaptized  are  left 
to  God's  uncovenanted  mercy ;  and  what  that  is,  no  mortal  can  tell.  But 
I  think  I  will  undertake  to  tell  what  it  is  when  the  Doctor  gives  me  a  sat 
isfactory  account  how  baptismal  water,  through  the  grace  of  Christ,  does 
wash  away  the  guilt  of  original  or  birth-sin  (so  that  dying  before  they  can 
discern  between  good  and  evil,  etc.,  they  will  be  saved),  consistent  with 
the  whole  tenor  of  the  rest  of  this  performance,  where  the  merits  of  Christ, 
applied  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  alone  cleanses  from  sin ;  especially  at  the 
top  of  page  223,  where  the  Doctor  asserts  that  right  to  pardon,  and  a 
claim  to  eternal  life,  are  wholly  treasured  up  in  Christ,  and  only  are  at 
tained  through  faith  in  him  ;  —  I  say,  when  the  Doctor  gives  a  solution  of 
this  Gordian  knot,  I  will  undertake  the  other  part  promised.  Will  the 
Doctor  assert  that  infants,  who  are  not  capable  of  discerning  between  good 
and  evil,  are  capable  of  believing  in  a  gospel  sense  ?  If  not,  will  he  as 
sert  that  they  will  be  saved  without  a  right  to  pardon,  or  any  claim  to  eternal 
life,  which  are  blessings  treasured  up  in  Christ  ?  I  cannot  see  how  this  diffi 
culty  can  be  solved,  without  recourse  to  believing  by  proxy,  which  I 


1774-1779. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  255 


think  the  Doctor  will  not  recur  to,  lest  the  Grassier  should  learn  the  trick, 
and  get  the  curate  to  believe,  in  his  stead,  that  he  might  follow  more 
agreeable  business  and  yet  be  safe,  and  after  all  vanquish  the  Doctor  with 
his  own  weapon.     But  if  there  is  so  much  efficacy  in  baptism,  it  is  a  pity 
everybody  should  not  partake  of  it.     And  pray,  can  anybody  administer 
it  that  pleases  ?  or  must  he  be  a  clergyman  ?     If  so,  alas  !  what  shall  our 
poor  American  church-people  do  ?     For  since  the  King's  naughty  minis 
ters  undertook  to  enslave  the  colonies,  the  rebel  congresses,  conventions, 
committees,  etc.,  have  forbid  the  clergy  to  pray  for  the  King,  and  they  are 
so  sulky  that  they  will  neither  preach,  pray,  baptize,  nor  anything  else.1 
And  now  must  the  poor  infants  who  may  happen  to  die  all  perish  through 
their  obstinacy,  the  wickedness  of  the  congresses,  and  the  King's  ministers  1 
If  this  be  the  case,  I  hope  the  Doctor's  patriotism  will  furnish  the  minority 
with  a  new  argument,  to  urge  at  the  next  sitting  of  Parliament  the  repeal 
of  the  laws  ;  and  which  must  be  very  forcible,  for  I  do  not  believe  that  ad 
ministration  ever  intended  to  kill  our  souls.  I  know  pious  Lord  Dartmouth 
will  turn  about ;  for  it  is  storied   in  America  that  he  was  very  squeam 
ish  when  they  determined  to  kill  only  their  bodies.     I  was  glad,  however. 
to  find,  with  the  Grazier,  you  was  not  "  forgetting  Jesus  Christ  to  help  out 
some  defects,"  in  which  you  put  the  grace  of  Christ  together  with  "  bap 
tismal  water,"  —  especially  as  a  man  of  a  plain  understanding  might  con 
clude  the  former  quite  sufficient  of  itself;  though  the  Doctor  seems  to  have 
given  baptismal  water  the  preference,  agreeable  to  the  Grazier's  method 
of  discharging  sinful  debts,  or  paying  a  decent  part  of  the  shot  himself, 
and  leaving  Jesus  to  discharge  the  rest  of  the  reckoning.     But  how  will 
this  comport  with  the  sentiment  advanced  in  page  17G  :  "  It  matters  not  at 
all  whether  the  work  be  ritual  or  moral,  while  we  seek  to  be  saved  by  it,  If 
we  seek  at  all  to  be  saved  by  any  Avork  of  our  own,  we  fall  from  grace.'* 
Pray,  Doctor,  is  not  baptism  as  much  a  work  as  circumcision  ? 

On  page  224  you  quote  God's  declaration  to  Abraham,  long  before  Jesus 

l  Perhaps  Dr.  Manning  is  too  sweeping  in  his  remarks  touching  the  loyalty  of 
the  Episcopal  clergy.  It  is  certain,  however,  that  there  was  ample  foundation 
for  such  remarks.  In  the  chapter  of  Staples's  Annuls  devoted  to  ecclesiastical 
history,  we  find  that  the  liev.  John  Graves,  who  was  tlie  rector  of  the  Episcopal 
church  in  Providence  until  July,  1776,  declined  to  officiate  after  that  period, 
because  he  could  not  be  permitted  to  read  the  usual  and  ordinary  prayers  for 
the  King,  which  he  considered  himself  bound  by  his  ordination  vows  to  offer. 
The  church  was  in  consequence  closed,  most  of  the  time,  during  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  For  a  clear  account  of  the  relations  of  the  Church  of  England  to 
the  American  Colonies,  see  Thornton's  "  Pulpit  of  the  American  Revolution." 


256  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  V. 

was  given,  "  That  an  uncircumcised  child  shall  be  cut  off  from  his  peo 
ple  ;  he  hath  broken  my  covenant "  (Gen.  xvii.  16),  and  say  the  covenant 
here  spoken  of  is  not  the  Sinai  covenant,  but  the  covenant  of  grace. 
Circumcision  was  the  outward  sign  of  this  covenant  to  Abraham,  as  bap 
tism  is  to  us.  The  outward  rite  is  different,  but  the  covenant  the  same. 
This  I  compared  with  pp.  33,  144,  where  I  find  it  thus  written  :  "  If  you 
desire  benefit  from  the  covenant  of  grace,  you  must  be  baptized,  and  if 
you  seek  advantage  from  the  covenant  of  works,  you  must  be  circumcised. 
A  rite  of  initiation  is  appointed  to  both  the  covenants,  and  you  cannot 
enter  into  both  without  partaking  of  the  double  rite."  "  In  a  covenant 
of  works  a  man  must  work  for  life  by  his  own  will  and  power,"  etc.  "  The 
tenor  of  this  covenant  is,  do  and  live,  transgress  and  die,"  etc.  u  In  the 
covenant  of  grace  all  things  are  purchased  for  us,  and  bestowed  upon  us 
generously  and  freely.  These  two  covenants  are  called  the  old  and  the 
new ;  no  more  are  noticed  in  Scripture ;  and  a  suitable  law  respecting 
both  is  mentioned,  —  the  law  of  works  and  the  law  of  faith  (Rom.  iii.  27). 
All  other  laws  are  cobwebs  of  a  human  brain,  such  as  the  law  of  sincere 
obedience,  the  law  of  love,"  etc.  And  pray  why  not  the  law  of  infant- 
baptism  ?  Now  if  the  covenant  made  with  Abraham  was  the  covenant 
of  grace,  and  circumcision  was  the  sign  of  it,  why  are  we  told  that  if  we 
desire  benefit  from  the  covenant  of  works  we  must  be  circumcised  ?  It 
cannot  be  because  these  two  very  different  covenants  have  the  same  rites 
of  initiation  ;  because  the  Doctor  says  their  rites  are  different,  unless  the 
covenant  of  grace  in  Abraham's  days  is  a  covenant  of  works  in  ours  ;  for 
there  are  but  two  covenants,  the  old  and  the  new,  noticed  in  the  Scrip 
tures. 

But  I  will  leave  you  to  compare  these  passages  yourself,  without  further 
insisting  upon  their  inconsistency,  and  come  to  the  dernier  resort :  "  That 
no  harm  can  possibly  arise  from  baptizing  an  infant."  Stop,  Doctor, 
stop  ;  these  expressions  are  very  strong,  —  I  fear  much  too  strong.  For 
did  not  the  Doctor  say,  page  222,  "  That  much  people,  who  are  strangers 
to  the  work  of  regeneration,  suppose  the  new  birth  is  only  their  baptism, 
and  that  every  one  is  born  again  who  is  baptized  1 "  And  is  it  strange  they 
should  think  so  when  they  hear  thanks  returned  to  God  on  its  perform 
ance,  that  it  is  so  by  the  doctors  appointed  to  that  service  ?  Surely,  to  lead 
such  multitudes  into  error  in  such  an  important  article  as  that  of  regen 
eration,  cannot  be  such  a  harmless  thing,  especially  if  we  believe  our 
Saviour's  account  of  it  (John  iii.  3).  Besides,  it  makes  great  doctors  con 
tradict  themselves  when  they  write  or  talk  about  the  covenants.  If  I  was 


1774-1779.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  257 

one  of  those  doctors,  I  should  think  this  was  some  harm.  But,  most  of 
all,  it  is  invading  the  kingly  office  of  the  great  Redeemer ;  for  I  can  see 
no  reason  why  the  merits  of  saints  may  not  bo  mingled  with  the  merits  of 
Christ  to  save  the  Christian,  as  the  laws  or  ordinances  of  men  with  those 
of  Christ  to  rule  and  govern  it.  Shall  we,  like  Uzzah,  not  trust  the  Lord 
wholly  with  his  ark,  but  must  have  a  meddling  finger  ?  I  forbear  to  recite 
the  following  part  of  your  sentence.  I  must  mention  one  more  evil  which 
arises  from  baptizing  infants,  which  is  this  :  The  practice  constrains  those 
servants  of  God  who  practise  it  often  to  wrest  and  explain  away  the 
plain,  obvious  sense  of  Scripture  to  vindicate  it ;  especially  to  give  such 
representations  of  the  covenant  of  grace  as  mars  its  glory,  and  encour 
ages  the  opposers  of  the  glorious  doctrines  of  grace  in  rejecting  the  pure 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  This  has  often  grieved  my  heart,  and  in  no  case 
more  than  in  reading  your  book,  where  the  glorious  Redeemer  is  exalted 
in  his  office,  nature  and  grace,  and  the  pride  of  man  stained,  until  you 
get  hampered,  as  I  think,  with  infant-baptism,  which  neither  we  nor  our 
fathers  are  able  to  prove  was  ever  the  mind  of  Christ.  Upon  this  prin 
ciple  I  concluded  to  address  to  you  a  line  ;  not  under  the  notion  of  a  dis- 
p  -tation,  but  in  a  friendly  way  to  hint  at  what  I  thought  mistakes  in  your 
performance. 

You  may  probably  esteem  me  rigid,  from  this  specimen,  and  greatly  at 
tached  to  externals  ;  but  I  think  otherwise  of  myself.  I  think  I  love  the 
followers  of  the  Lamb,  under  whatever  denomination  they  pass  amongst 
men.  I  esteem  them  my  brethren,  and  feel  disposed  to  make  all  proper 
allowances  for  the  prejudices  of  education,  and  the  weaknesses  of  human 
nature,  knowing  that  I  myself  also  am  in  the  body,  and  peculiarly  need 
the  candor  of  my  Christian  friends.  I  hope,  therefore,  that  the  benevo 
lence  of  my  intentions  will  apologize  for  the  rudeness  of  my  manner.  I 
shall  always  rejoice  to  hear  that  dear  Mr.  Berridge  is  alive  for  God,  — is 
held  as  a  star  in  the  right  hand  of  Jesus,  and  is  honored  with  many  seals 
of  his  ministry,  even  though  he  should  continue  to  think  and  practise 
very  different  from  myself  relative  to  the  mode  and  subjects  of  baptism  ; 
though  I  sincerely  pray  that  you  may  be  set  entirely  right  in  this  matter. 
And  blessed  be  God,  he  has  left  us  a  rule  which  is  able  to  make  wise  unto 
salvation  through  faith  in  Jesus  Christ.  May  all  our  doctrines  and  prac 
tices  be  governed  by  that ;  and  may  the  Spirit  of  truth  lead  us  into  all 
truth,  and  ever  keep  us  humble,  solely  relying  on  the  Lord  for  those  sup- 
22* 


-'>  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  V. 

plies  of  grace  and  help  which  we  always  need.    May  the  God  of  Blessing 
bless  you.    I  am,  reverend  and  dear  sir, 

Your  friend  and  servant  in  the  gospel, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

On  Wednesday,  Sept.  3,  1777,  the  members  of  the  cor 
poration,  as  appears  from  the  records,  met  in  the  new 
Baptist  meeting-house,  and  conferred  degrees  upon  seven 
members  of  the  Senior  Class,  who  had  been  examined  the 
day  previous,  in  accordance  with  the  following,  which  we 
take  from  the  Providence  Gazette.  There  was  no  Com 
mencement  :  — 

As  the  term  of  vacation  in  the  college  is  now  expired,  the  students  are 
hereby  informed,  that,  in  the  present  state  of  public  affairs,  the  prosecu 
tion  of  studies  here  is  utterly  impracticable,  especially  while  this  continues 
a  garrisoned  town.  It  is  therefore  recommended  to  them  to  prosecute 
their  studies  elsewhere  for  the  present,  to  the  best  advantage  in  their 
power.  The  Senior  Class  are  desired  to  meet  at  the  college,  to  pass  their 
examination,  and  receive  their  degrees  at  the  usual  time,  being  the  2d  day 
of  September  next,  unless  the  college  should  be  called  together  sooner. 
In  behalf  of  the  corporation, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

PROVIDENCE,  May  16,  1777. 

There  was  no  further  meeting  of  the  corporation  held 
until  May  5,  1780,  when  an  attempt  was  made  to  revive 
the  instruction  of  the  college. 

The  years  following  the  breaking  up  of  the  college  were 
seasons  of  great  distress.  Many  families  left  the  town, 
unable  to  obtain  a  subsistence.  The  records  of  the  church 
show  that  members  of  influence  and  property,  some  of 
them  warm  personal  friends  of  Manning,  were  really  ob 
jects  of  commiseration.  It  was  the  delight  of  the  pastor, 
in  this  hour  of  trial,  when  members  of  his  flock  were  scat 
tered  by  the  war,  and  the  influences  of  literature  seemed 


1771-1779.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  259 

paralyzed,  to  aid  the  needy,  and  to  throw  the  sunshine  of 
Christian  sympathy  around  the  path  of  the  afflicted.  His 
knowledge  of  the  world,  his  courtly  manners,  his  Christian 
meekness,  combined  with  his  extraordinary  energy  of  char 
acter,  enabled  him  to  move  at  ease  in  every  class  of  soci 
ety,  and  thus  to  promote  the  good  of  all.  The  following 
instance  of  his  humane  disposition  is  thus  related  by 
HowTland,  in  his  brief  memoir  of  Dr.  Manning,  published 
in  the  year  1815  in  the  Rhode  Island  Literary  Repos 
itory  :  — 

"  He  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  general  commanding  in  this  depart 
ment,  and  in  one  instance  in  particular  had  all  the  benevolent  feelings  of 
his  heart  gratified,  even  at  the  last  moment,  after  earnest  entreaty,  by  ob 
taining  from  General  Sullivan  an  order  of  reprieve  for  three  men  of  the 
regular  army  who  were  sentenced  to  death  by  that  inexorable  tribunal,  a 
court-martial.  The  moment  he  obtained  the  order  revoking  the  sentence, 
he  mounted  his  horse  at  the  General's  door,  and,  by  pushing  him  to  his 
utmost  speed,  arrived  at  the  place  of  execution  at  the  instant  the  last  act 
had  begun  which  was  to  precipitate  them  into  eternity.  With  a  voice 
which  none  could  disobey,  he  commanded  the  execution  to  stay,  and  de 
livered  the  General's  order  to  the  officer  of  the  guard.  The  joy  of  the 
attending  crowd  seemed  greater  than  that  of  the  subjects  of  mercy  ;  they 
were  called  so  suddenly  to  life  from  the  last  verge  of  death,  they  did  not 
for  a  moment  feel  that  it  was  a  reality." 

In  the  same  memoir  Mr.  Howland  thus  relates  the  his 
tory  of  an  important  civil  function  which  was  confided  to 
Dr.  Manning,  and  by  him  most  skilfully  discharged  :  — 

"  The  repeated  calls  of  the  militia,  while  the  enemy  remained  in  this 
State  (Rhode  Island),  operated  with  peculiar  severity.  In  some  districts 
the  ground  could  not  be  planted,  and  in  others  the  harvest  was  not 
reaped  in  season ;  the  usual  abundance  of  the  earth  fell  short,  and  lie  who 
had  the  best  means  of  supply  frequently  had  to  divide  his  store  with  a 
suffering  neighbor.  In  addition  to  this,  laws  existed  in  several  States 
prohibiting  the  transport  of  provisions  beyond  the  State  boundary.  The 


MANNING   AND  CHAP.  V. 

plea  for  these  restrictions  was  that  there  was  danger  of  the  enemy  being 
supplied  ;  but  the  real  cause  was  to  retain  the  provisions  for  the  purpose 
of  furnishing  their  State's  quota  of  troops,  as  the  war  was  generally  car 
ried  on  by  the  energy  of  the  governments  of  the  individual  States.  These 
restrictions  came  with  double  weight  on  the  citizens  of  Rhode  Island,  as 
a  great  part  of  the  State  was  in  the  possession  of  the  enemy,  and  the 
remainder  was  filled  with  those  who  had  fled  from  the  islands  and  the 
coasts  for  safety.  These  restrictions  and  pi'ohibitions  were  variously 
modified  ;  but  under  all  their  variations,  which  referred  chiefly  to  the  mode 
of  executing  the  law,  the  grievance  was  the  same.  The  Governor  and 
council  of  war  of  Rhode  Island,  wishing  to  give  their  language  of  remon 
strance  a  power  of  impression  which  paper  could  not  be  made  to  convey, 
commissioned  Doctor  Manning  to  repair  to  Connecticut,  and  represent, 
personally,  to  the  government  of  that  State  our  peculiar  situation,  and  to 
confer  with  and  propose  to  them  a  different  mode  of  procedure.  The 
Doctor  in  this  embassy  obtained  all  that  he  desired  ;  the  restrictions  were 
removed,  and,  in  addition  to  this,  on  his  representation  of  the  circum 
stances  of  the  refugees  from  the  islands,  contributions,  in  money  or  pro 
visions,  were  made  in  nearly  all  the  parishes  in  the  interior  of  Connecticut, 
and  forwarded  for  their  relief." 

In  this  connection  we  cannot  refrain  from  quoting  an 
other  anecdote  of  Manning,  as  an  illustration  of  his  readi 
ness  to  use  every  opportunity  to  benefit  the  souls  of  his 
fellow-men.  We  find  it  in  Stone's  Life  and  Recollections 
of  Howland.  In  May,  1780,  occurred  "the  dark  day,"  so 
often  referred  to  by  the  chroniclers  of  that  period.1  At 
noon  all  ordinary  business  was  suspended.  Fowls  sought 
their  roosts,  cattle  retired  as  at  night,  and  men  stood  ap 
palled  at  the  dread  appearances.  "I  went,"  says  How- 
land,  "  into  the  street,  where  many  persons  were  assembled, 
and  among  others  Dr.  Manning.  A  powerful  man,  but 
profligate,  advanced  up  to  the  President,  and  said,  « How 

1  For  an  account  of  the  "  Dark  Day,"  by  Prof.  Williams,  see  Memoirs  of  the 
American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  Vol.  I.  Sec  also  Holmes's  Life  of 
Stiles,  p.  265. 


1774-1779.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  261 

do  you  account  for  this  darkness,  sir  ?  what  does  it  mean  ?  ' 
The  President,  with  great  solemnity  of  manner,  replied, 
'I  consider  it,  sir,  as  a  prelude  to  that  great  and  important 
day  when  the  final  consummation  of  all  things  is  to  take 
place.'" 

A  letter  which  we  find  addressed  to  his  friend  and  for 
mer  pupil  the  Rev.  Thomas  Ustick,  now  in  Ashford,  Con 
necticut,  shows  that  the  college  was  uppermost  in  all  his 
thoughts  and  plans,  even  though  the  fortunes  of.  war  had 
suspended  its  public  exercises  :  — 

PROVIDENCE,  Nov.  17,  1778. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

I  am  told  that  Mr.  Kelly  has  entirely  quitted  Pomfret,  to  their  great 
disappointment.  There  was  a  large  gathering  of  people  attended,  and  the 
prospect  was  encouraging  of  great  good  to  be  done  there.  In  a  letter  to 
Brother  Thurber,  I  mentioned  the  probability  of  your  supplying  them,  at 
least  for  the  present,  and  perhaps  of  settling  amongst  them  for  life,  if 
you  and  they  are  blessed  together.  Should  that  be  the  case,  it  would  be  a 
good  place  for  a  Latin  school,  a  nursery  for  the  college,  which  I  wish 
you  immediately  to  engage  in,  and  endeavor  to  influence  as  many  as  you 
can  of  our  people  to  educate  their  children.  The  present  state  of  the 
Baptist  society  in  New  England  must  convince  us  all  of  the  importance 
of  having  men  of  education  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  I  am  very  sorry 
that  I  did  not  think  to  mention  something  of  this  to  the  Association ;  but 
I  have  written  and  am  about  writing  to  all  our  ministers  capable  of  teach 
ing  Latin,  to  immediately  engage  in  the  business.  I  hope,  from  present 
appearances,  that  college  orders  may  be  again  revived  next  spring.  I 
think  you  ought  at  least  to  visit  Pomfret,  and  help  them  under  their  pres 
ent  disappointment,  as  I  understand  you  do  not  preach  statedly  at  Ash- 
ford,  and  that  you  are  nearly  convinced  that  it  will  not  be  best  for  you  to 
settle  at  that  place.  With  respects  to  you  and  yours, 

I  remain,  etc., 

JAMES  MANNING. 

A  letter  from  Judge  Howell,  resigning  his  place  as  Pro 
fessor  of  Philosophy  in  the  college,  may  fitly  close  this 
chapter :  — 


262  MANNING  AND  BROWN  UNIVERSITY.         CHAP.  V. 

PROVIDENCE,  March  11, 1779. 

SIR  :  —  Having  ever  been  impressed  with  a  just  sense  of  the  honor  con 
ferred  upon  me  in  my  appointment  to  the  place  of  Professor  of  Philoso 
phy  in  Ehode  Island  College,  it  becomes  me,  with  much  freedom  and  sin 
cerity,  to  acknowledge  it. 

I  have  ever  admired  the  liberal  and  catholic  plan  of  this  college,  and 
esteemed  it  worthy  of  the  State  that  gave  it  birth  and  patronage,  which 
has  induced  me  for  many  years  assiduously  and  cheerfully  to  contribute 
towards  establishing  it  on  a  footing,  with  respect  to  credit  and  finances, 
which  might  entitle  it  to  more  able  teachers.  That  our  young  seminary 
had  well-nigh  attained  this  state  of  maturity,  all  circumstances  conspired 
to  afford  us  the  most  nattering  prospect,  before  the  commencement  of  the 
present  war. 

Although  experimental  philosophy  was  the  direct  object  of  my  pro 
fession,  yet  other  branches  of  learning  were  devolved  upon  me.  How  far 
my  honest  endeavors  to  initiate  my  pupils  in  the  rudiments  of  classical 
learning,  and  instil  into  their  minds  the  elementary  principles  of  law,  the 
parent  of  science,  and  my  favorite  theme,  have  been  attended  with  suc 
cess,  and  answered  the  good  purposes  of  my  appointment,  is  submitted  to 
your  honor,  the  corporation,  the  sons  of  the  college,  and  the  public  to 
determine. 

Having  at  length  given  over  all  hopes  of  a  revival  of  classical  instruc 
tion  in  this  college  during  the  continuance  of  the  war,  and  not  feeling 
disposed  so  far  to  take  advantage  of  public  munificence  as  to  continue  to 
avail  myself  of  the  emoluments  of  an  office  without  discharging  its  du 
ties,  I  have  thought  fit,  not  without  weighty  deliberation,  to  resign  the 
professorship. 

I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

DAVID  HOWELL. 

Chancellor  Hopkins. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

JOURNEY    TO    PHILADELPHIA. 

APKIL29  —  SEPT.  29, 1779. 

Distressed  condition  of  the  people  of  Rhode  Island  in  1779  —  Probable  reasons 
for  a  journey  to  Philadelphia  —  Diary  or  Journal  —  Manning  sets  out  from 
Providence  Thursday,  April  29  —  Sunday,  May  2,  preaches  at  Mr.  James  Thur- 
ber's  in  the  forenoon,  and  at  Mr.  Thompson's  in  the  afternoon  —  Thursday,  May 
6,  Continental  Fast  —  Preaches  in  the  afternoon  for  Rev.  Dr.  Nathan  Strong, 
of  Hartford  — Saturday,  May  8.  preaches  to  Seventh-day  Baptists  in  Farming- 
ton  —  Description  of  the  country  —  Sunday,  May  9,  preaches  for  Rev.  Judah 
Champion,  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Litchfield  —  Monday, 
crosses  chains  of  tremendous  mountains  —  Tuesday,  May  11,  preaches  in  the 
evening  at  Mr.  Waldo's  —  Wednesday,  12,  crosses  Continental  Ferry  —  Thurs 
day,  13,  reaches  the  family  of  his  brother-in-law,  Rev.  John  Gano  —  Sunday, 
16,  preaches  twice  for  Rev.  Mr.  Randall's  people  —  Tuesday,  18,  assists  his 
nephews  in  planting  —  Sunday,  23,  preaches  again  for  Mr.  Randall  at  Warwick 
—  Monday,  24,  sets  out  for  the  Jerseys  —  Reaches  Mrs.  Manning's  home  in  the 
evening— May  27,  visits  Elizabethtown,  his  native  place  —  Sunday,  30,  preaches 
at  the  Scotch  Plains  Church  —  Meeting  interrupted  by  the  march  of  the 
American  forces  —  Sunday,  June  6,  preaches  with  Mr.  Stelle,  to  a  large  au 
dience—Saturday,  12,  preaches  at  the  Scotch  Plains  Church— Sunday,  13, 
preaches  again  and  administers  communion  — Sunday,  20,  preaches  at  Lion's 
Farms  —  Monday,  June  21,  sets  out  for  Philadelphia  —  In  the  evening  preaches 
at  Samuel  Randolph's  — June  24,  visits  Dr.  Vankirk,  and  preaches  in  the  even 
ing— Accounts  of  Grain  and  Indian  Corn  — June  27,  tarries  with  Re\v  Wil 
liam  Van  Horn  at  Southampton,  and  preaches  —  Fruit  in  this  neighborhood 
cut  off  by  the  frost  — Crops  fine  — Monday,  June  28,  reaches  I'ennepek,  and 
tarries  with  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Jones  five  days  —  Sketch  of  Dr.  Jones  —  July  2, 
Manning  arrives  at  Philadelphia  —  Puts  up  at  William  Goforth's  — Calls  on 
Samuel  Davis,  William  Rogers,  Mr.  Watkins,  Mr.  Westcot,  Dr.  Rush,  Mr. 
Moulders,  Mr.  Hart,  and  Robert  S.  Jones —  Financial  embarrassments  of  the 
country  —  Mr.  Joseph  Hart  of  the  Executive  Council  spends  the  evening  at 
his  lodgings  —  July  3,  breakfasts  with  Dr.  Rush  —  Inquires  of  Mr.  Collins,  a 
member  of  Congress,  relative  to  the  money  question  —  Dines  at  Mr.  Red 
wood's  with  Hon.  William  Ellery  —  Sunday,  July  4,  preaches  twice  — General 


264  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VI. 

Spencer,  a  member  of  Congress,  spends  the  evening  with  him  —  Monday,  July 
6,  importuned  by  a  Committee  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  to  tarry  with  them 
a  long  time  — Sets  out  in  the  afternoon  for  Dr.  Jones's  — July  7,  sets  out  for 
Bordentown  —  July  9,  preaches  in  the  evening  —  July  11,  preaches  at  Cran 
berry  —  Sick  with  diarrhoea  —  July  13,  preaches  at  the  Baptist  meeting  —  July 
16,  sets  out  for  Piscataway  —  Mrs.  Manning  ill  —  July  17,  preaches  at  Sabba 
tarian  meeting  — July  18,  preaches  for  Mr.  Stelle  twice —  July  19,  returns  to 
the  Farms  — Report  concerning  General  Wayne  and  Stony  Point  —July  23, 
sets  out  for  Hopewell  —  July  25,  preaches  twice  and  administers  the  commun 
ion—July  26,  preaches  in  the  afternoon  —July  27,  dines  at  John  Hart's,  New- 
town—July  29,  sets  out  again  for  Philadelphia  — July  30,  visits  in  town  — 
Sees  the  prisoners  taken  at  Stony  Point  — Aug.  1,  preaches  twice  —  Letters 
from  friends  — Aug.  5,  call  from  Ecv.  Morgan  Edwards  —  Aug.  7,  visits  Capt. 
Falkner,  in  company  with  Edwards  —  Aug.  8,  preaches  in  town  three  times 

—  Aug.  10,  visits  Col.  Miles,  in  company  with  Edwards  and  Jones  —  Descrip 
tion  of  his  country-seat  — Weather  — Crops  — Aug.  14,  preaches  in  the  even 
ing  —  Aug.  15,  preaches  twice,  and  attends  funeral  of  a  child  —  Aug.  16,  sets 
out  for  Mr.  Jones's  at  Pennepek  —  Finds  Mr.  Edwards  there  — Aug.  17,  sets 
out  for  the  Jerseys  —  Visits  his  family  and  friends  —  Sept.  8,  sets  out  for  Prov 
idence—Sept.  11,  reaches  the  home  of  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Gano,  and 
next  day  preaches  twice  at  Warwick— Sept.  14,  meets  Lieut.  Ilubbel  on  the 
road,  who  had  come  from  Newburgh  with  an  invitation  from  West  Point  — 
Sept.  16,  goes  down  to  West  Point  by  water  in  Lieut.  Hubbel's  boat  —  De 
scription  of  the  Fort  and  Grounds  — Introduced  to  Sergeon  McDugal  — Dines 
at  General  Green's  quarters  with  his  family— Is  introduced    to   General 
Washington,  General  Knox,  Baron  Steuben,  the  French  Ambassador,  and 
others—  Returns  up  the  river— Sept.  17,  sets  out  from  the  Continental  Ferry 

Journey  through  Connecticut — Description  of  the  country  —  Character  of 

the  inhabitants  —  Manner  of  conducting  town  meetings  —  Ravages  of  the  war 

—  Reaches  home,  Sept.  29. 

THE  year  1779  was  one  of  great  .trial  and  of  severe  suffer 
ing  to  the  inhabitants  of  Rhode  Island.  For  nearly  two 
years  Narragansett  Bay  and  all  the  island  towns,  at  least 
one  fourth  of  the  State,  had  been  in  possession  of  the  en 
emy.  External  trade  was  almost  entirely  suspended,  and 
the  people  were  unable  to  procure  any  adequate  supply  of 
the  necessaries  of  life.  Nearly  every  able-bodied  man 
was  in  service,  either  in  the  State  militia  or  the  Continen 
tal  army,  arid  even  the  negroes  and  Indian  slaves  were 
enlisted  as  soldiers.  The  price  of  labor  and  of  all  articles 
of  merchandise  was  fixed  by  legislative  decree.  The  taxes 


1779. 


BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  265 


imposed  by  the  State  were  enormous ;  amounting  this  year 
to  £495,000,  and  in  the  year  following  to  four  times  this 
sum.  Paper  money,  which  had  greatly  depreciated  in 
value,  was  made  a  legal  tender  in  the  payment  of  debts ; 
and  so  easily  was  it  counterfeited,  that  not  even  the  Sec 
retary  of  State  could  distinguish  the  genuine  from  the 
spurious.  In  addition  to  all  this,  the  national  cause  had 
encountered  reverses,  Congress  was  reduced  to  a  very  low 
ebb,  the  ablest  members  having  left  it,  and  the  prospect  of 
independence  and  peace  was  overcast  with  shadows  and 
doubts. 

It  was  in  reference  perhaps  to  this  alarming  state  of  the 
currency  of  the  country,  and  in  the  hope  of  aiding  by  coun 
sel  or  otherwise  his  distressed-fellow  townsmen,  that  Dr. 
Manning  set  out  on  a  journey  to  Philadelphia,  visiting  on 
the  way  his  relatives  in  New  York  and  New  Jersey.  In 
company  with  his  wife  he  left  Providence  on  the  29th  of 
April,  returning  on  the  29th  of  September.  He  was  thus 
absent  just  five  months,  having  passed  through  the  States 
of  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  and 
Pennsylvania.  The  following  diary  or  journal  was  kept 
by  him  as  they  travelled  from  day  to  day.  It  abounds  in 
historical  incidents  and  allusions,  and  presents  an  excellent 
daguerreotype  view  of  the  author's  private  life.  As  an 
illustration  of  the  times  in  which  he  lived,  and  of  the 
general  condition  of  society,  it  is  an  exceedingly  valuable 
document.  We  have  therefore  devoted  to  it  an  entire 
chapter,  illustrating  it  with  such  notes  as  seemed  desirable 
for  the  better  understanding  of  the  text.  As  an  evidence 
of  Dr.  Manning's  popularity  as  a  preacher,  and  of  his  love 
for  this  kind  of  work,  it  may  be  added,  that  his  services 
were  called  into  requisition  forty-eight  times  during  this 
journey  to  Philadelphia  and  the  Jerseys.  He  preached 
23 


266  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  V I. 

in  meeting-houses  of  different  denominations,  in  private 
dwellings,  and  even  in  stores  and  places  of  business,  as  the 
reader  will  observe. 

MANNING'S  JOURNAL  . 

Set  out  from  Providence  Thursday,  29th  of  April,  at  six  o'clock  P.  M. 
Reached  Col.  Abraham  Winsor's  in  the  evening ;  began  to  rain ;  were 
hospitably  entertained  ;  ten  miles.  Friday  morning,  3Qth.  A  cold  north 
east  storm  ;  broke  away  at  eight  o'clock  A.  M.,  but  remained  showery  and 
very  blustering.  Travelled  to  Mr.  John  Brown's  farm  at  Chepachet,  six 
miles.  Refreshed  ourselves  and  horse,  and  proceeded  to  Capt.  Corlis's, 
Killingly,  twelve  miles.  The  roads  extremely  bad.  Spent  the  afternoon 
and  evening,  and  the  next  forenoon  of  May  1,  in  visiting  them  and  Mr. 
Jones's  family.  Set  out  after  dinner  and  visited  Gov.  Sessions,  who  has 
a  most  excellent  farm  in  good  order.  After  tea  travelled  to  Mr.  Benjamin 
Thurber's  in  Pomfret,  six  miles.  The  roads  better ;  tarried  over  Lord's 
Day. 

Sunday,  May  2.  Preached  at  Mr.  James  Thurber's,  three  miles  back, 
in  the  morning,  and  at  Mr.  Thompson's  in  the  afternoon.  Preached  a 
lecture  at  Mr.  B.  Thurber's  at  five  o'clock ;  the  house  crowded  and  the 
audience  very  attentive  and  affected.  Visited  Paul  Tew,  Esq.,  at  Wood 
stock,  Monday,  May  3,  A.  M.  and  P.  M.  Mr.  Gaboon's  family,  and 
dined ;  also  Mr.  Lee's,  Thompson's,  B.  Lindsey's,  and  Esquire  Frink's. 
Borrowed  Mr.  Lindsey's  trunk;  left  ours,  a  jacket,  pattern  for  breeches, 
white  gown,  black  wool  hat,  Hart's  Hymns,  and  some  valuable  papers,  in 
Mr.  Thurber's  care.  Set  out  Tuesday  morning,  May  4,  and  visited  Col. 
Nightingale,  three  miles.  Spent  the  forenoon  and  dined.  He  lives  most 
elegantly;  has  a  grand  farm;  entertained  us  hospitably.  Then  pro 
ceeded  to  Mr.  Jeremiah  Brown's,  two  and  one  half  miles ;  ascended  a 
tremendous  hill,  refreshed,  and  proceeded  two  and  one  half  miles  to  Capt. 
Bowles's,  Ashford.  Tarried  all  night,  well  entertained,  and  set  out  on  the 
morning  of  the  5th.  Travelled  six  miles  to  Stephen  Snow's,  refreshed, 
and  then  reached  Mr.  Robinson's,  a  pious  Baptist  gentleman,  who  bids 
fair  to  be  useful  in  the  ministry,  in  Mansfield,  passing  through  a  corner  of 
Willington ;  six  miles.  Were  received  with  great  kindness  ;  dined.  Set. 
out  and  reached  an  inn  in  Coventry,  seven  miles.  Fed  the  horse,  and 
travelled  fifteen  miles  through  Bolton  into  East  Hartford,  to  the  widow  of 
Capt.  Bidwel,  a  pious  Baptist  lady,  and  a  good  liver.  Were  kindly  en- 


1779. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  267 


tertained,  tarried  all  night,  and  went  on  for  Hartford.  Three  miles  to 
meeting,  it  being  Thursday,  the  6th  of  May,  the  Continental  East ;  but  a 
severe  northwest  wind  prevented  our  crossing  the  ferry  for  several  hours. 
Passed  at  length,  and  put  up  at  Bull's  Tavern,  opposite  the  town  house  ; 
were  unknown  to  them.  In  the  afternoon  went  to  Mr.  Strong's l  meeting, 
who  insisted  that  I  should  preach,  which  I  did  to  a  very  large  and  atten 
tive  audience.  After  service  Mr.  Strong  took  us  to  his  house  to  lodge, 

and  entertained  us  like  a  friend,  and  Capt. took  our  horse  from  the 

tavern  and  kept  it  well ;  both  insisting  that  we  should  call  on  them  again 
on  our  way  back,  as  did  Dr.  Smith.  Till  within  ten  or  twelve  miles  of 
Hartford  the  way  is  in  general  mountainous  and  rocky,  but  the  people 
live  well  by  their  industry,  of  which  there  are  striking  indications.  The 
season  at  Hartford  appears  nearly  or  quite  a  fortnight  earlier  than  at  Prov 
idence.  Except  Sunday,  Monday,  and  Tuesday,  the  weather  very  blus 
tering  and  cold,  but  no  frost.  The  winter  grain  looks  exceeding  promising, 
and  a  vast  quantity  of  summer  grain  is  put  in  ;  abundance  of  land  prepared 
for  Indian  corn ;  the  fruit  not  injured  by  frosts.  Friday  morning,  May 
7.  Set  out  for  Earmington  ;  reached  Mr.  Joseph  "Woodruff's,  ten 
miles,  and  tarried  to  dinner  ;  kindly  entertained  ;  then  proceeded  to  a 
settlement  of  Seventh-day  Baptists  in  the  northwest  part  of  Farmington, 
ten  miles.  Tarried  at  Mr.  Covey's,  where  we  were  kindly  treated,  and 
preached  Saturday,  the  8th  inst.,  to  their  society,  to  great  acceptance ;  after 
passing  the  meadows  four  miles,  the  road  rough,  and  an  exceeding  high 
mount  of  difficult  ascent.  The  weather  cold,  and  frost  at  night.  The 
fruit  here  killed.  After  meeting  proceeded  through  Farmington;  oated 
at  Mr.  Baldwin's  tavern,  and  reached  Mr.  Philips's  tavern  at  Litchfield 
at  sundown.  The  whole  of  this  way  exceeding  mountainous  and  rough, 
but  the  land  fertile  and  well  improved  ;  fine  fields  of  grain  and  good  build 
ings  all  the  way.  The  people  here  live  exceeding  well.  One  tedious 
mountain  two  and  one  half  miles  from  Litchfield ;  the  day  warm ;  the 
distance  thirteen  miles.  This  town  is  situated  on  a  cold  hill,  the  water 
bad,  and  the  season  near  a  fortnight  backward  of  Hartford.  Good  lodg 
ings  and  entertainment  at  the  tavern ;  the  landlady  very  agreeable. 

i  The  Rev.  Dr.  Nathan  Strong,  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church. 
He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1769,  with  the  highest  honors  of  his  class.  He 
was  a  remarkable  man  in  his  day,  and  exerted  among  his  own  denomination, 
especially,  a  very  important  influence.  He  originated  the  "  Connecticut  Evan 
gelical  Magazine,"  and  in  the  organization  of  the  "  Connecticut  Missionary  So 
ciety  »  had  a  primary  agency.  He  died  in  1816,  in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his 
age. 


268  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VI. 

Sunday,  9th.  Was  waited  on  by  Mr.  Champion,1  the  Congregationalist 
minister,  whom  I  found  to  be  a  worthy,  friendly  man,  and  a  good  preacher. 
He  invited  me  to  preach,  which  I  did  in  the  afternoon,  to  a  large  audi 
ence,  with  great  freedom  and  to  good  acceptance.  The  people  solemn 
and  attentive.  After  meeting  called  on  Lawyer  Reeve,  who  lives  here. 
Dined  with  Mr.  Champion ;  lodged  with  Dr.  Smith ;  an  agreeable,  gen 
teel  family.  Monday,  Wth.  Set  off  at  8  o'clock,  accompanied  three  and 
one  half  miles  by  Mr.  Champion,  whose  company  was  very  agreeable. 
He  insisted  if  we  ever  came  that  way  again  we  should  make  his  house 
our  home,  as  did  Dr.  Smith  and  Mr.  Reeve.  The  road  good  this  distance, 
but  soon  becomes  exceeding  rough,  especially  Mount  Tom,  a  tremend 
ous  precipice  near  a  mile  long  ;  at  six  or  seven  miles  after  this  better  to 
Rawmagin  Iron  Works,  in  Washington,  eleven  miles  from  Litchfield; 
Landlord  Morgan's.  After  dinner  set  out  to  Bull's  Iron  Works,  in  Kent, 
ten  miles,  stopping  to  oat  at  Tirril's  tavern,  half  way.  Here  we  crossed 
successive  chains  of  the  most  tremendous  mountains  I  ever  attempted  to 
travel  over,  and  which  it  was  just  possible  to  ascend.  The  whole  distance 
over  there  is  but  a  barren  country,  and  the  season  very  backward,  until  we 
come  to  the  Works,  where  the  soil  and  climate  seem  very  different,  as  the 
season  is  much  earlier.  Refreshed  at  Landlord  Beach's,  a  pretty  good 
house ;  set  off  and  arrived  at  Col.  Morehouse's,  four  miles,  in  the  even 
ing.  Had  good  entertainment  and  bed.  The  last  stage  a  fine  country, 
well  improved,  good  buildings,  and  a  good  road.  Passed  Mr.  Waldo's 
mseting-house,  one  half  mile.  This  part  of  the  country  greatly  divided 
in  politics ;  the  Tories  have  done  great  damage  by  robbing,  etc.,  in  this 
neighborhood.  The  York  line  one  half  mile  this  side  of  Bull's  Iron 
Works.  Through  the  mountains  observed  the  grasshoppers  as  in  sum 
mer.  The  country  here  full  of  good  wheat  fields,  and  also  their  first  great 
preparations  for  a  summer  crop.  Tuesday,  May  1 1 .  Came  to  Mr.  Waldo's, 
two  miles  ;  out  of  the  road  one  half  mile.  Being  both  unwell  and  greatly 
fatigued,  and  our  horse  also,  by  yesterday's  journey,  concluded  to  tarry 
all  day  and  night.  This  is  in  Dutchcss  County,  Pawling's  Precinct. 
Between  this  and  Bull's  Works  passed  a  considerable  river,  along  the 
banks  of  which  fine  and  pleasant.  Had  good  lodgings.  Mr.  Waldo  has 
a  good  tract  of  land,  two  hundred  acres,  patent  land,  the  lease  for  three 


1  Rev.  Judah  Champion.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1751;  was  ordained 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Litchfield,  July  4th,  1753;  died  in  1810.  He  preached  the 
Connecticut  Election  Sermon  in  1766,  which  was  published. 


1779. 


BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  269 


lives.  At  night  preached  at  his  house,  from  2d  Cor.  iv.  17.  The  state 
of  religion  remarkably  cold,  and  the  congregation  much  divided  in  politics. 
Wednesday,  12th.  Set  out,  after  being  very  hospitably  entertained,  and 
crossed  a  tedious  and  long  mountain,  two  miles,  before  we  fully  got  up  ; 
the  descent  easy  and  the  road  fine  to  the  westward ;  the  country  full  of 
good  wheat  fields.  To  Capt.  Storm's,  thirteen  miles.  Here  a  genteel  tav 
ern  and  good  entertainment.  The  militia  assembled  to  send  every  twelfth 
man  to  the  frontiers  against  the  Indians.  Travelled  five  miles  to  Capt. 
Griffin's ;  fed  my  horse,  and  then  five  miles  to  Fishkill,  and  fed  again. 
This  but  a  small  village,  the  buildings  poor,  and  much  injured  by  the 
troops.  The  whole  of  the  road  from  Capt.  Storm's  remarkably  fine,  and 
the  country  good  and  well  cultivated,  especially  with  wheat.  From  hence 
to  the  Continental  Ferry  the  road  and  country  not  equally  good  as  before. 
No  horse-keeping  at  the  Ferry.  No  wind,  and  the  tide  unfavorable.  *Two 
hands  rowed  over,  and  were  rowing  until  quite  dark ;  rained  steadily  :  this 
had  been  threatened  all  day  by  small  sprinklings.  Had  a  pleasant  day 
for  travelling ;  but  now  we  are  landed,  in  a  dark  rainy  night,  on  a  strange 
shore,  and  no  tavern  that  had  horse-keeping.  With  much  difficulty  found 
Col.  Hansbrook's,  but  the  kitchen  people  were  in  bed;  were  taken  in, 
had  good  entertainment,  horse-keeping,  and  a  good  bed.  Thursday,  13th. 
Rose,  but  a  storm  from  the  northeast  and  a  heavy  rain  determined  us  to 
tarry  all  day.  The  family  very  agreeable  —  high  Whigs,  and  wealthy. 
Friday,  14th.  Cleared  away  in  the  morning ;  set  out  at  eight  o'clock,  and 
passed  through  New  Windsor,  a  small  village,  under  a  disagreeable  hill. 
The  road  bad  here,  as  it  is  seven  miles,  to  Mr.  Cross's.  Stopped  and 
rested,  but  he  not  at  home.  From  thence  to  Mr.  Owen's,  who  married 
Lizzy  Burden,  six  miles.  There  dined.  From  thence  travelled  seven 
miles,  and  at  the  tavern  gave  six  shillings  lawful  money  for  two  quarts  of 
oats.  From  thence  reached  Mr.  Gano's,1  five  miles,  a  little  before  night. 
He  lives  in  a  small  log  house,  on  a  good  farm,  belonging  to  a  refugee  Tory, 
but  much  out  of  repair.  Large  quantities  of  wheat  and  rye  on  the  ground 
along  this  road,  which  look  tolerably  well,  but  all  the  fruit  killed  by  the 
frost  in  April.  The  cherry  trees  are  again  coming  out  in  blossoms, 

i  Rev.  John  Gano,  his  brother-in-law,  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in 
New  York,  but  now  engaged  as  chaplain  in  the  army.  His  family  resided  here 
probably  until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  the  summer  of  1776  the  British  took 
possession  of  New  York  and  its  environs,  which  they  evacuated  Nov.  25,  1783. 
During  this  time  most  of  the  loyal  or  Whig  families  were  of  course  away  from 
the  city. 

23* 


270  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VI. 

though  not  full.  Think  there  will  be  no  fruit  for  twerfty  miles  east  of  the 
river.  Tarried  Saturday,  15th. 

Sunday,  IQth.  Preached  twice  for  Mr.  Randall's  people.  A  handsome 
congregation  out,  and  very  attentive .  Monday,  1 7th.  Visited  Esquire  Burt, 
a  good  liver,  and  genteel  people.  Tuesday,  18th.  Assisted  the  boys  in 
planting  and  dunging  their  farm ;  the  afternoon  and  evening  was  sick ; 
took  a  sweat,  and  was  better.  Wednesday,  19th.  Nothing  but  a  north 
east  storm  prevents  our  setting  out  for  the  Jerseys.  Mr.  Gano  had  gone 
to  the  army  before  we  arrived  here,  which  is  marching  to  the  northward. 
This  is  a  very  hilly  country,  and  much  good  meadow  land.  "Warwick 
lies  within  about  five  miles  of  the  Jersey  line.  The  mountains  to  the 
southeast  are  infested  with  Tory  robbers,  who  greatly  terrify  the  inhab 
itants  ;  thirty  of  them,  or  thereabouts,  and  their  harborers,  have  been  lately 
apprehended,  and  many  more  have  fled,  it  is  supposed  to  New  York.  A 
species  of  grasshoppers  were  discovered  in  the  wheatficlds,  by  men  of  un 
doubted  veracity.  From  Wednesday  to  Saturday  rain  continued  from  the 
northeast.  Tarried  till  Sunday,  23d. 

Preached  again  at  Warwick  ;  the  audience  crowded,  and  much  affected. 
Hud  great  liberty  in  preaching.  After  meeting  set  out  and  dined  at  Col. 
Ilathhorn's,  one  mile  on.  Proceeded  fifteen  miles  over  the  mountains  to 
Col.  Soward's  and  lodged.  Met  kind  people,  and  good  livers.  The  house 
here  fortified  against  robbers,  and  all  sleep  armed.  I  rested  scarce  any 
all  night,  through  the  importunity  of  a,  troublesome  insect.  Monday, 
24//i.  Set  off  before  sunrise,  and  reached  Davenport's  at  Newfoundland 
to  breakfast,  ten  miles ;  was  kindly  treated.  They  refused  anything  for 
our  eating,  as  they  did  at  Col.  Soward's.  From  thence,  ten  miles,  we 
reached  Esq.  Tuttle's.  Fed  our  horses,  refreshed  ourselves,  and  set  out 
for  Morristown,  twelve  miles,  where  we  arrived,  between  four  and  five 
o'clock,  at  Arnold's  tavern.  This  is  an  extremely  hot  day,  and  the  travel 
ling  excessively  tedious,  as  well  on  that  as  on  account  of  the  rocky 
mountainous  country,  which  extends  from  Warwick  within  about  three 
miles  of  Morristown.  The  greatest  part  of  this  country  unsettled,  and 
consequently  in  general,  till  within  about  ten  miles  of  Morristown,  all  this 
part  of  the  country  full  of  grain.  Set  out  about  sundown,  and  reached 
Mr.  Stites',i  about  11  o'clock,  very  much  fatigued.  Found  the  old  people 
somewhat  indisposed,  but  all  very  glad  to  see  us.  From  25th  to  27th, 

1  John  Stites,  Esq.,  father  of  Mrs.  Manning. 


1779. 


BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  271 


tarried  at  the  farm  ;  then  went  to  Elizabethtown1  and  tarried  till  the  28th, 
at  Brother  Woodruffs.  The  town  and  suburbs  less  damaged  by  the  enemy 
than  I  expected.2 

Sunday,  30th.  Preached  at  the  Plains,3  but  the  meeting  much  inter 
rupted  by  the  march  of  the  Pennsylvania  line,  under  General  St.  Clair, 
towards  the  North  River.4  Went  to  Sister  Tingley's,  and  tarried  till  Tues 
day.  Tuesday,  Jane  1st.  A  tine  rain  on  Monday  ;  went  to  Brother  Joseph 
Manning's,5  and  tarried  all  night.  Wednesday,  accompanied  by  him  and 
wife,  visited  Uncle  Joseph  Randolph,  and  reached  Jeremiah  Manning's 
at  Bordentown.  Tarried  till  Friday,  June  4.  There  heard  the  cheering 
account  of  the  Charleston  victory,6  and  the  moving  of  the  whole  army  to 
North  River.  Afternoon  crossed  Crown  Ferry,  and  lodged  at  Capt. 
Morgan's,  Chester  Quakers  ;  ten  miles.  Saturday,  5th.  Set  out  early,  and 
reached  Mr.  Buckalaw's,  two  miles,  to  breakfast.  Met  with  Messrs. 
Stelle  7  and  Coles,7  and  proceeded  to  Bray's  meeting-house.  Mr.  Stelle 
preached.  Lodged  at  the  widow  Holmcs's  ;  an  agreeable  family. 

Sunday,  6th.  Mr.  Stelle  and  myself  preached.  Had  a  large  audience. 
Monday,  1th.  Messrs.  Coles  and  D.  Jones8  preached,  and  also  had  a  large 


1  Dr.  Manning's  native  town,  the  capital  of  New  Jersey  at  this  time,  and  the 
principal  place  in  the  State;  noted  for  its  good  schools,  and  the  general  culture 
and  intelligence  of  its  inhabitants. 

2  On  the  28th  of  February,  1779,  a  party  of  British  troops,  sent  by  Clinton  from 
New  York,  landed  at  Elizabethtown  Point,  for  the  express  purpose  of  taking 
"  the  rebel  governor,"  as  they  called  him,  Livingston,  whose  residence  was  here 
at  Elizabethtown.    Not  finding  him  at  home,  they  seized  his  papers,  burned  a 
few  dwellings,  and  departed  for  New  York. 

3  The  Scotch  Plains  Baptist  Church,  of  which  Manning  had  been  a  member. 

*  A  large  portion  of  Washington's  army  had  been  encamped,  or  hutted,  as 
Hildreth  terms  it,  at  Middlebrook  and  vicinity,  near  Elizabethtown,  during  the 
previous  winter  and  spring.  The  encampment  broke  up  at  this  time ;  hence  the 
disturbance  of  public  worship  caused  by  the  marching  of  the  troops  northward, 
of  which, the  Pennsylvania  line  under  St.  Clair  formed  a  part. 

s  Joseph  Manning  was  a  ruling  elder  of  the  Scotch  Plains  Church,  having 
been  elected  to  this  office  on  the  10th  December,  1777. 

o  Referring  to  the  invasion  of  Charleston  by  the  British  under  Prevost,  in 
May  previous,  and  their  repulse  by  the  Continental  troops  and  militia  under 
Moultrie  and  Rutlege. 

7  Rev.  Isaac  Stelle,  pastor  of  the  Piscataway  Baptist  Church,  and  Rev.  Benja 
min  Coles,  pastor  of  the  church  at  Hopewell. 

s  The  Rev.  David  Joues,  formerly  of  New  Jersey,  but  now  a  distinguished 
chaplain  in  the  army  under  Geu.  St.  Clair. 


272 


MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VI. 


audience.  Lodged  this  night  at  the  widow  Molly  Holmes's  ;  a  fine  family. 
This  is  a  most  excellent  part  of  the  country  for  land  and  excellent  crops ; 
but  the  shores  are  greatly  infested,  and  the  inhabitants  robbed,  by  To 
ries,  who  have  fled  to  the  enemy.  Tuesday,  Jane  8.  In  company  with 
Messrs.  Stelle  and  Jones  came  to  Mr.  Dennis's  at  Spotswood,  to  dinner, 
thirteen  miles ;  agreeable  people.  Nine  miles  to  Brunswick,  where  at  Capt, 
Dennis's  we  tarried  Tuesday  night.  Wednesday,  3th.  Crossed  the  river 
at  the  landing,  and  came  to  Uncle  Ephraim's  and  tarried.  Brunswick 
much  injured  by  the  British.  Tliurdsay,  10th.  Visited  Mr.  Stelle,  Aunt 
Manning,  and  tarried  at  Uncle  Joseph  Randolph's.  Friday,  \\th.  Re 
turned  to  the  Farms  ;  found  parents  ill.  Saturday,  12/A.  Preached  at  the 
Plains,  and  returned. 

Sunday,  13th.  Preached  again,  gave  out  the  communion  service,  and 
tarried  at  Rev.  Mr.  Miller's.  A  fine  rain  this  day,  though  the  meetings 
not  interrupted.  14th.  Returned  to  the  Farms.  A  great  rain,  followed  by 
a  succession  of  thunder- showers,  to-day.  Sister  Tingley  and  Joseph 
Manning's  wife  came  and  tarried  the  night.  Went  to  town,  and  brought 
Sister  Woodruff,  upon  the  15th.  The  season  remarkably  good,  and  the 
grain  extraordinary,  as  well  as  grass,  through  the  country.  Wednesday } 
June  16.  Fine  weather.  Rain  in  the  afternoon.  17th,  18th,  and  19th, 
tarried  at  Papa  Stites's. 

Preached  at  Lyon's  Farms,  the  20th,  two  sermons.  The  people  in  the 
morning  service  very  attentive  and  affected,  and  the  meeting  tolerably 
full.  Returned,  and  on  Monday,  the  21st,  set  out  for  Philadelphia.  Visited 
Messrs.  Miller  and  Joseph  Maiming,  and  dined.  Preached,  at  6  o'clock, 
with  great  freedom,  at  Capt.  Samuel  Randolph's,  and  tarried  all  night.  Set 
out  the  22d  and  visited  Capt.  William  Manning,  Jacob  Martin  Esq.,  Ma 
jor  Edgar,  and  Benjamin  Manning  Esq.,  who,  with  his  lady,  accompanied 
us  to  Brother  Jeremiah  Manning's,  where  we  tarried.  23d.  Accompanied 
with  brother  and  wife,  kinsman  and  his,  went  to  Mr.  Stelle's  ;  thence  to 
Brunswick.  Heard  Mr.  Miller  preach  from  the  words  of  Hannah.  Dined 
at  Mr.  Wall's.  Called  at  Mr.  Dennis's,  and  set  out  at  four  o'clock  for 
Hopewell ;  reached  Mr.  Barton's  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening.  The  day 
hot.  Next  day,  24th,  visited  Dr.  Vankirk's,  to  see  aunt,  and  preached  at 
the  meeting-house  at  six  o'clock.  But  few  out.  Next  morning,  Friday, 
25th,  visited  Messrs.  Coles  and  Blackwell,  and  reached  John  Hart's,1  Esq., 

1  Perhaps  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Oliver  Hart.  If  so,  he  graduated  uudcr  Man 
ning,  in  the  year  1776.  The  "  discipline  of  the  rod  "  seems  to  have  been  at- 


1779. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  273 


at  Newtown,  two  o'clock  P.  M. ;  were  detained  the  night  by  a  seasonable 
heavy  rain,  and  treated  most  hospitably.  The  weather  most  intensely  hot. 
English  grain  the  best  and  in  the  greatest  quantity  from  Brunswick  here 
that  I  ever  saw ;  but  the  Indian  corn  backward  and  poor  in  general, 
owing  to  the  cold  and  wet  of  the  former  part  of  the  season.  26th.  Set  out 
to  Neshaminy  Ford,  but  impassable  by  the  great  fall  of  rain.  Went  four 
miles  up  the  creek  to  the  bridge,  which,  being  taken  up,  we  were  detained 
till  four  o'clock  P.  M.  at  Mr.  Cozens's,  when  the  water  subsided,  and  we 
passed.  The  road  from  Newtown  here  very  bad,  but  the  creek  to  South 
ampton  good,  where  we  reached,  before  sunset,  Mr.  Van  Horn's.1  Found 
the  family  well. 

Stayed  the  27th,  and  preached  at  the  meeting-house.  But  few  people 
out.  Mr.  Coles  was  expected.  After  meeting  returned,  and  tarried  till 
Monday.  On  June  4th  a  report  prevailed  in  Woodbridge  that  the  British 
army  at  Charleston  were  totally  defeated,  with  the  loss  of  fourteen  hun 
dred  killed  and  wounded,  and  seven  hundred  taken.  Repeated  reports 
somewhat  similiar,  though  not  making  their  loss  so  great,  have  been  con 
stantly  brought  from  the  South  ;  but  no  official  account  confirming  it  has 
yet  come  to  hand.2  All  the  fruit  nearly  cut  off  by  the  great  frost  in  these 
parts.  The  crops  incomparably  fine,  but  some  fields  near  the  river  struck 
with  the  red  rust,  though  but  little  hurt.  Rye  harvest  begun,  and  wheat 
will  be  here  this  week. 


tended  with  good  effects,  if  we  may  judge  from  the  little  information  respecting 
him  here  given. 

1  Rev.  William  Van  Horn.  He  was  born  in  1746;  educated  at  Dr.  Samuels 
Jones's  Academy  at  Penuepek ;  ordained  as  pastor  over  the  Baptist  church  at 
Southampton,  Pa. ;  honored  with  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from  the  Rhode 
Island  College  1774;  and  during  the  Revolutionary  war  was  an  efficient  and 
honored  chaplain.  He  died  in  1807  in  the  sixty-first  year  of  his  age. 

3  Reports  then  must  have  quite  equalled  if  not  excelled  the  telegraphic  news 
of  the  present  day.  The  simple  facts  as  recorded  in  history  are  as  follows  :  The 
British  in  1779  made  a  second  invasion  of  South  Carolina  under  General  Prevost, 
and  were  eventually  repulsed.  On  the  llth  of  May,  Prevost  with  nine  hundred 
regulars  crossed  the  Ashley,  leaving  his  main  army  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river.  During  the  forenoon  Count  Pulaski  with  his  legion  attacked  the  British 
advanced  guard,  and  was  repulsed  with  great  slaughter.  Prevost  now  advanced 
to  the  American  lines,  but  in  the  night,  after  summoning  the  city  to  surrender, 
withdrew  to  James  Island,  fearing  the  approach  of  Gen.  Lincoln  with  an  army 
of  four  thousand  men.  On  the  20th  of  June  the  British  were  attacked  by  about 
twelve  hundred  of  Lincoln's  men,  and  the  assailants  were  repulsed.  Loss  about 


274  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VI. 

Monday,  June  28.  Set  out  and  travelled  to  Pennepck,  Mr.  Jones's. 1 
Arrived  in  the  evening,  and  found  the  family  well  and  glad  to  see  us. 
Tarried  here  until  July  2d.  Spent  the  time  agreeably  in  viewing  the 
form,  its  products,  harvest,  etc.,  and  in  conversation.  The  season  here 
extremely  hot ;  height  of  wheat  harvest ;  the  grain  struck  with  the  red 
rust,  though  little  injured,  except  the  lye,  which  is  much  blasted.  The 
greatest  part  of  the  harvest  between  here  and  Philadelphia,  where  we  ar 
rived  at  eleven  o'clock  A.  M.,  July  2.  Put  up  at  Mr.  William  Goforth's, 
and  my  horse  across  the  way,  in  Second  Street,  between  Kace  and  Vine 
Streets.  Visited  Samuel  Davis,  but  he  was  out  of  town  ;  also  Mr.  Rogers. 
Called  at  Mr.  Watkins's,  then  at  Mr.  Westeot's  5  from  thence  to  Dr. 
Rush's,2  who  treated  me  politely ;  from  thence  called  on  Messrs.  Shields 

three  hundred  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  on  each  side.  Three  days  after- 
w^rds  the  British  evacuated  the  island.  (See  Lossing's  Field-Cook,  etc.) 

1  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Jones,  one  of  Manning's  intimate  friends.  He  was  three 
years  his  senior,  having  been  born  in  the  year  1735.  Of  the  church  of  Pennepek, 
afterwards  called  Lower  Dublin,  he  was  the  honored  and  esteemed  pastor  up 
wards  of  fifty-one  years.  He  was  also  an  educator  of  youth,  and  in  this  latter 
capacity  was  greatly  distinguished,  being  especially  judicious  and  considerate  to 
such  young  men  under  his  care  as  had  the  ministry  in  view.  On  the  death  of 
Manning,  in  1791,  he  was  named  by  many  of  the  Trustees  and  Fellows  of  the  col 
lege  as  his  successor  in  the  presidency.  (See  letters  of  Stillman  and  Howell  at 
the  close  of  our  last  chapter.)  He,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  one  of  the  com 
mittee  to  remodel  the  college  charter. 

Dr.  Jones  was  one  of  the  most  useful  members  of  the  Philadelphia  Association. 
"  Here,"  says  Sprague  in  his  Annals,  "  he  is  appointed  to  frame  a  system  of  dis 
cipline,  and  there  to  compile  a  book  of  hymns,  and  then  to  draw  up  a  map  rep 
resenting  the  various  associations;  one  year  he  holds  the  office  of  moderator, 
and  the  next  writes  the  circular  letter  to  the  churches,  and  the  next  performs 
some  other  important  public  service;  —indeed,  it  is  impossible  to  look  through 
the  minutes  without  perceiving  that  he  was  always  one  of  the  master  spirits  of 
the  body.  Few  men  could  manage  more  adroitly  than  he  a  difficult  and  in 
volved  case;  and  sometimes,  by  a  single  suggestion,  in  a  deliberative  body,  he 
would  bring  light  out  of  the  thickest  darkness,  and  order  out  of  the  wildest  con 
fusion."  In  1807  he  preached  the  century  sermon  of  the  Association,  which  was 
published.  He  died  Feb.  7,  1814,  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his  age. 

Dr.  Jones  was  a  ready  writer  and  a  fluent  speaker.  In  his  person  he  is  de 
scribed  as  a  large  and  firmly  built  man,  six  feet  or  more  in  height,  and  every 
way  well  proportioned.  His  face  was  the  very  image  of  intelligence  and  good 
nature;  which,  with  the  air  of  dignity  that  pervaded  all  his  movements,  ren 
dered  his  appearance  uncommonly  attractive.  He  possessed  an  ample  fortune, 
which  he  used  with  signal  grace  and  hospitality. 

2  Benjamin  Rush,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence ;  dis- 


1779.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


275 


and  Moulders.  Called  at  Mr.  Hart's  lodging,  but  he  not  within,  which 
was  also  the  case  at  Mr.  Robert  S.  Jones's.  The  evening  of  July  2,  Mr. 
Joseph  Hart,  of  the  Executive  Council,  spent  at  my  lodgings.  Saturday, 
July  3.  This  morning  came  out  a  paper,  in  which  Congress  was  han 
dled  pretty  severely,  under  the  signature  of  Leonidas.1  Breakfasted  at 
Dr.  Rush's,  and  received  two  hundred  dollars,  Dr.  Finley's  draft  on  him. 
Spent  the  forenoon  chiefly  in  writing  to  Providence,  by  Mr.  Ellery,  who 
sets  off  this  afternoon.  Went  to  the  State  House.  Met  Mr.  Collins,  and 

tiuguished  for  his  learning  and  piety,  as  well  as  for  his  great  professional  skill. 
He  was  educated  at  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  graduating  in  1760,  two  years 
before  Manning. 

i  The  financial  embarrassments  of  the  country  were  exceedingly  great  at  this 
period,  in  consequence  of  the  rapid  depreciation  of  the  paper  currency,  of  which 
Congress  had  emitted,  on  the  1st  of  September,  1799,  one  hundred  and  sixty  mil 
lions.  A  spirit  of  discontent,  of  speculation  and  of  fraud  was  everywhere  mani 
fest.  «  The  honest  and  patriotic  were  impoverished,  while  rogues  and  Tories 
grew  rich."  As  an  illustration  of  the  perils  and  difficulties  of  this  crisis,  we 
print  the  following  handbill,  which  was  posted  up  in  the  streets  of  Philadelphia 
about  this  time.  Similar  bills  were  posted  in  other  cities. 

"  FOR  OUR  COUNTRY'S  GOOD. 

"  The  depreciation  of  our  money,  and  the  high  price  to  which  everything  is  got, 
is  one  and  the  same  thing.  We  ask  not  who  introduced  the  evil,  how  it  arose, 
or  who  encouraged  it.  In  the  midst  of  money  we  are  in  poverty,  and  exposed 
to  want  in  the  land  of  plenty.  You  that  have  money,  and  you  that  have  none, 
down  with  your  prices,  or  down  with  yourselves;  for,  by  the  ever-living  and 
eternal  God,  we  will  bring  every  article  down  to  what  it  was  last  Christmas,  or 
we  will  down  with  those  who  oppose  it. 

"  We  have  turned  out  against  the  enemy,  and  we  wish  not  to  be  eaten  up  by 
monopolizers  and  forestallers. 

MOVE  ON  COOLLY." 

"  It  gives  me  very  sincere  pleasure,"  writes  Washington  to  his  friend  Reed, 
now  President  of  Pennsylvania,  "  that  the  Assembly  is  so  well  disposed  to  sec 
ond  your  endeavors  in  bringing  those  murderers  of  our  cause,  the  monopolizers, 
forestallers,  and  engrossers,  to  condign  punishment.  It  is  much  to  be  lamented 
that  each  State,  long  ere  this,  has  not  hunted  them  down  as  pests  of  society,  and 
the  greatest  enemies  we  have  to  the  happiness  of  America.  I  would  to  God  that 
some  one  of  the  more  atrocious  in  each  State  was  hung  in  gibbets  upon  a  gallows 
five  times  as  high  as  the  one  prepared  for  Haman.  No  punishment,  in  my 
opinion,  is  too  severe  for  the  man  who  can  build  his  greatness  upon  his  country's 
ruin."  When  Washington  wrote  in  this  way,  what,  says  Hildreth,  was  to  be 
expected  of  the  inconsiderate  multitude? 


27G 


MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VI. 


inquired,  without  much  satisfaction,  what  was  on  foot  in  Congress  rela 
tive  to  the  money.  Dined  at  Mr.  Redwood's  with  Mr.  Ellery,  and  re 
turned  to  my  lodgings,  where  were  Messrs.  Shields  and  Conolly,  who 
spent  the  afternoon  with  us. 

Lord's  Day,  July  4.  Preached  twice  with  some  freedom;  the  morn 
ing  congregation  thin  ;  more  in  the  afternoon.  Both  church  and  society 
.  here  in  a  broken  state.  The  people  urgent  for  my  tarrying  a  considerable 
time,  which  did  not  suit  my  affairs.  In  the  evening  visited  one  of  the 
members  of  the  church  near  her  end.  Appeared  to  be  in  a  happy  frame 
of  mind.  Attended  a  religious  society  composed  of  Baptists,  Presbyteri 
ans,  and  Church  people.  They  appeared  very  serious,  and  somewhat  en 
gaged  in  religion.  Found  Gen.  Spencer x  at  my  lodgings,  now  a  member 
of  Congress.  It  being  the  Fourth  of  July,  the  anniversary  of  Independence, 
the  chaplains  of  Congress  preached  suitable  to  the  occasion,  and  Congress 
attended.  High  mass  was  celebrated  and  Te  Deum  sung  at  the  Romish 
chapel.  The  gentlemen  of  the  town  were  invited  by  billets  from  the 
French  minister  to  attend.  I  suppose  these  causes  rendered  the  Baptist 
meeting  thinner  than  otherwise.  The  lowering  of  prices  by  the  committee 
is  considered  by  the  town  as  a  violent  measure  and  only  a  temporary  re 
lief,  but  think  it  will  share  the  fate  of  former  State  bills.2  The  suburbs  of 
this  city  greatly  destroyed  by  the  English,  but  the  body  of  it  not  much 
damaged.  A  fine  rain  on  the  night  of  the  4th  of  July.  Some  more  apples 
in  these  parts  than  in  the  Jerseys,  though  but  few.  Monday,  5th.  Brcak- 

1  Joseph  Spencer.    He  was  born  in  Connecticut,  in  1714.    He  was  a  major  in 
the  colonial  army  in  1756,  and  was  one  of  the  iirst  eight  brigadiers  appointed  by 
the  Continental  Congress  in  1775.    He  was  appointed  a  major-general  in  1776, 
and  in  1777  was  in  command  of  the  American  forces  on  Rhode  Island.    After  his 
resignation  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  Congress  from  his  native  State.    He  died 
in  East  Haddam.  in  January,  1789,  aged  seventy-five. 

2  A  short  time  after  this  (Oct.  4),  a  riot  took  place  in  Philadelphia  in  consequence 
of  this  attempt  of  :i  committee  to  regulate  the  prices  of  flour,  rum,  sugar,  molasses, 
coffee,  salt,  etc.    Kobert  Morris  and  other  leading  merchants  refused  to  conform 
to  the  regulation.    Wilson,  Clymer,  Mifflin,  and  their  friends  were  threatened 
with  banishment  to  New  York,  as  abettors  and  defenders  of  the  Tories.    Soon 
afterwards  (Oct.  20),  a  convention  of  the  five  Eastern  States  was  held  at  Hartford, 
at  which  a  plan  was  elaborated,  which  Congress  adopted,  regulating  prices  on  the 
basis  of  twenty  paper  dollars  for  one  of  specie.    Dr.  Manning's  visit  to  Philadel 
phia  doubtless  had  reference  to  some  measures  of  relief  of  this  kind  from  the  op 
pressive  laws  of  Rhode  Island  and  other  States,  passed  by  recommendation  of 
Congress,  which  made  paper  money  a  legal  tender. 


177D. 


BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  277 


fasted  at  Mr.  Shields's,  where  a  committee  from  the  church  met  and  impor 
tuned  me  to  tarry  with  them  some  time,  or  come  again  and  make  them  a 
longer  visit.  I  gave  them  hopes  of  the  latter  after  the  four  Sabbaths  of 
this  month.  Went  to  Mr.  David  Bowers',  and  thence  to  Mr.  Moulders' ; 
then  to  hear  the  oration  at  the  Dutch  church.  The  performance  indifferent. 
Congress  and  the  French  Ambassador  present,  and  a  large  assembly. 
Here  met  Mr.  Merchant,  and  called  at  his  lodgings.  Received  an  invita 
tion  to  dine  at  Prof.  Lawrens's,  but  we  dined  at  Mr.  Wcstcot's.  Returned 
to  our  lodgings.  Were  visited  by  Messrs.  Shields,  Britain,  and  Gen. 
Spencer.  Set  out  in  the  afternoon  for  Mr.  Jones's,  where  we  arrived  in 
the  evening.  The  weather  intensely  hot.  Tuesday,  6th.  Tarried  at  Mr. 
Jones's,  and  set  out  on  the  7th  for  Bordcntown.  Dined  at  Bristol,  and 
reached  Mr.  Alison's  before  night.  Passed  the  ruins  of  Mr.  Kirbright's 
buildings ;  the  river  three  fourths  of  a  mile  wide  ;  the  ruins  of  the  vessels 
burned  by  the  English  on  the  east  shore,  as  also  the  stores,  and  the  dwell 
ing-house  of  Mr.  Joseph  Borden,  treasurer.1  There  met  Mr.  Stitcs,  from 
Cranberry,  which  detained  us  until  Saturday,  July  10.  Were  hospitably 
treated  by  the  family,  Col.  Hoglund,  Dr.  Moore,  Mr.  Borden,  and  Mr. 
Kirbright.  Preached  on  Friday. evening,  and  set  out  in  the  morning 
for  Cranberry,  in  company  with  Col.  Hogland  and  Mr.  Stitcs.  Reached 
Cranberry  to  dine.  Found  the  Doctor  well,  and  glad  to  see  us. 

Preached  for  Mr.  Smith  Sunday  the  llth.  The  day  rainy  and  few 
people  out.  At  night  had  a  severe  diarrhoea,  which  continued  the  12th, 
so  that  I  kept  house  in  much  pain.  13th.  The  diarrhaa  abated  ;  the 
weather  fine  and  cool,  as  there  fell  a  vast  quantity  of  rain  on  Lord's  Day 
and  evening,  accompanied  by  abundance  of  thunder  and  lightning.  This 
morning  Mr.  Stelle  called  on  us  on  his  way  to  Philadelphia,  and  informed 
us  that  accounts  are  received  of  the  burning  of  New  Haven  by  the  British, 
and  that  they  are  destroying  all  in  their  way  in  that  quarter.2  Preached 
to-day  at  the  Baptist  meeting.  Tarried  the  14th  and  15th.  Still  much 

i  On  the  7th  of  May,  1778,  six  or  seven  hundred  British  troops  left  Philadelphia 
for  the  purpose  of  destroying  vessels  which  were  lying  in  Barnes's  and  Cross- 
wick's  Creeks  at  Bordentown.  They  burned  two  frigates,  destroyed  several 
smaller  vessels,  burned  several  residences  and  buildings  on  their  return,  and 
seized  considerable  property. 

2Eeferring  to  the  invasion  of  Connecticut  by  the  British,  under  Governor 
Tyron  of  New  York,  and  Brigadier-General  Garth,  in  the  early  part  of  July, 
1779,  during  which  they  plundered  New  Haven,  and  burued  Fairlield  and  Nor- 
walk. 

24 


278 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VI. 


indisposed.  1 6th.  Set  out  for  Piscataway,  called  at  Brunswick,  and  reached 
Bonham  Town.  Mrs.  Manning  very  ill  since  the  12th ;  scarce  able  to 
ride.  My  brother  in  great  fear  of  the  enemy.  Was  interrupted  till  mid 
night  by  the  seizure  of  a  trunk  of  goods.  17th.  Went  to  Mr.  Benjamin 
Manning's.  Left  my  spouse,  and  preached  at  the  Sabbatarian  meeting ; 
returning  to  our  lodgings  at  Benjamin  Manning's,  Esq. 

Sunday,  July  18.  Preached  for  Mr.  Stelle  twice,  dined  at  lodgings,  and 
came  on  to  Brother  Joseph's.  19th.  Returned  to  the  Farms.  To-day 
heard  that  the  British  fleet  at  Stony  Point  was  taken  by  General  Wayne, 
with  five  hundred  prisoners.1  Found  our  parents  as  well  as  usual,  and 
tarried  there,  Mrs.  Manning  being  very  unwell,  20th,  21st,  and  22d.  Set 
out  Saturday,  July  23,  for  Hopewell.  Left  my  mare  with  Swan's  horse. 
Called  on  Mr.  Miller,  who  was  in  ill  health.  Stopped  at  Capt.  Ran 
dolph's,  dined  at  Benjamin  Manning's  ;  called  at  Mr.  Stelle's,  but  he  was 
not  at  home  ;  met  him  at  Mr.  Hall's  in  Brunswick.  Reached  Mr.  Prince's, 
at  Rocky  Hill.  The  day  very  hot  and  dusty,  and  my  horse  travelled 
hard  and  greatly  fatigued.  Distance  thirty-two  miles.  Saturday,  24^/t. 
Was  unable  to  find  my  horse  until  late  in  the  morning.  Reached  Mr. 
Barton's  at  Hopewell,  ten  miles,  much  fatigued.  The  meeting  opened  by 
a  sermon  from  Mr.  Pitman,  to  good  acceptance.  Peter  Smith  also  at 
tended. 

Lord's  Day,  25th.  Preached  twice,  and  gave  out  the  communion  to  a 
part  of  the  church,  as  they  are  unhappily  divided  about  their  minister, 
Mr.  Coles.  The  day  exceedingly  rainy,  but  the  house  full.  Monday, 
26th.  Mr.  Joshua  Jones  came  and  preached  in  the  morning;  a  good  sermon. 
I  closed  the  meeting  in  the  afternoon.  Tuesday,  27th.  In  company  with 
Mr.  Smith  reached  Samuel  Jones's,  thirty  miles ;  caught  in  a  thunder- 
shower  and  got  very  wet ;  dined  at  John  Hart's,  Esq.,  at  New  Town.  Tar 
ried  Wednesday,  28th,  and  set  out,  after  a  rainy  morning,  Thursday,  29th, 
for  Philadelphia,  twelve  miles.  Put  up  my  horse  at  Mr.  Shields 's ;  called 
on  some  friends,  and  took  quarters  at  Mr.  Samuel  Davis's.  Friday,  July 
30.  Visited  some  friends  in  town.  Saturday,  3lst.  Saw  the  British  pris- 

1  This,  says  Lossing,  in  his  Field-Book  of  the  Revolution,  was  regarded  as  the 
most  brilliant  achievement  of  the  war,  and  raised  the  hero  Wayne  to  the  high 
est  point  in  the  admiration  of  his  countrymen.  The  fortress,  which  was  re 
garded  as  impregnable,  was  taken  on  the  night  of  July  16.  Conversing  with 
Washington  on  the  expedition  and  the  obstacles  to  be  overcome,  Wayne  is  said 
to  have  remarked  with  emphasis,  "  General,  I'll  storm  hell,  if  you  will  only  plan 
it." 


1779. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  279 


oners  taken  at  Stony  Point  march  in  ;  fine-looking  men.     Dined  at  Mr. 
Goforth's. 

Sunday,  Aug.  1.  Preached  twice.  The  congregation  pretty  large,  —  more 
so  than  usual  here,  —  and  very  attentive.  Spent  the  evening  at  a  religious 
conference,  where  there  seemed  a  degree  of  quickening  and  freedom.  Aug. 
2.  A  storm  of  rain  from  the  northeast,  which  continued  the  next  day ; 
heat  intense.  I  tarried  mostly  at  my  lodgings.  Aug.  4.  Wrote  letters 
to  Providence,  to  the  church  and  Nicholas  Brown.  Aug.  5.  The  ac 
count  of  the  defeat  of  the  British  by  the  French  fleet  in  the  West  Indies 
arrived.  Spent  the  evening  at  Major  Goforth's,  in  company  with  several 
gentlemen.  Here  I  met  Major  Somner,  ten  days  from  Providence,  who 
tells  me  that  things  are  agreeable  in  that  quarter,  which  I  was  also  in 
formed  of  by  a  letter  from  General  Varnum,,received  yesterday.  G  Brig 
ade  is  come  to  headquarters,  which  I  heard  by  a  line  from  Van  Horn, 
at  the  same  time.  Friday,  6th.  Delivered  my  letters  to  Mr.  Somner.  This 
day  Mr.  Edwards  called  upon  me,  and  tarried  in  town  several  days.  Saw 
General  Spencer  and  Mr.  Collins.  Abundance  of  rumors  concerning  the 
West  India  affair.  Visited  in  town  in  the  forenoon.  Saturday,  1th. 
Went  with  Mr.  Edwards  to  Capt.  Falkner's,  five  miles,  and  spent  the 
afternoon  agreeably. 

Sunday,  Aug.  8.  Preached  three  times.  The  assembly  full,  and  the 
people  so  importunate  for  another  Sabbath  that  I  concluded  to  stay.  9th. 
Messrs.  Jones,  Blackwell,  and  Nathaniel  Stout  came  to  town ;  the  former 
tarried  with  me  one  night.  Tuesday,  10th.  Mr.  Edwards,  in  company 
with  Jones  and  myself,  set  out  for  Col.  Miles's.  Distance  thirteen 
miles.  Arrived  in  the  evening,  and  he  and  lady  next  morning,  from  town. 
He  has  a  most  elegant  seat,  gardens,  meadows,  etc.,  and  a  most  remark 
able  spring,  which  turns  three  wheels  in  one  fourth  of  a  mile  from  its 
source.  Spent  three  days  very  agreeably,  and  on  the  13th  set  out  for 
town,  Mr.  Edwards  returning  with  Mr.  Jones.  The  weather  extremely 
hot,  and  abundance  of  rain.  The  Indian  corn  incomparably  fine,  the  buck 
wheat  forward,  and  the  second  crop  of  grass  cutting.  This  is  an  agree 
able  part  of  the  country.  Preached  this  evening,  Saturday,  14th.  Visited 
Major  Goforth's  ;  paid  my  barber ;  received  one  hundred  dollars  of  Mr. 
Rogers,  as  per  order;  called  at  Mr.  Morris's,  and  dined  at  Mr.  Ball's. 

Sunday,  Aug.  15.  Extremely  hot.  Preached  twice,  attended  the 
funeral  of  a  child,  and  drank  chocolate  at  Mr.  Turner's.  Richard 
Lemon  and  both  the  McKims,  from  Baltimore,  at  meeting.  Monday,  1  §th. 
Visited  Mr.  Moulders',  and  attended  the  meeting  of  the  church  and  society, 


280  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VI. 

who  unanimously  agreed  to  get  the  pulpit  supplied.  Chose  a  committee 
of  eight,  half  from  the  church  and  half  from  the  society,  to  raise  the  neces 
sary  supplies  for  that  purpose,  and  to  call  Mr.  Gano  for  one  year.  At 
two  o'clock  set  out  for  Mr.  Jones's.  Preached  at  Pennepek  at  five  o'clock. 
Tarried  with  Mr.  Jones  and  Mr.  Edwards.  The  weather  intensely  hot; 
though  the  season  uncommonly  wet.  Tuesday,  Aug.  17.  Set  out  for 
Bordcntown,  where  I  dined.  Reached  Cranberry,  Dr.  Stites's,  at  night, 
18th.  Reached  Brunswick,  and  dined  at  Robert  Huder's,  where  I  met 
with  Mrs.  Gano  and  John.  Reached  Mr.  Stites's  in  the  evening,  and 
found  all  well.  The  Indian  corn  incomparably  fine  through  the  whole 
country.  Thursday,  13th.  Went  to  Elizabethtown,  and  returned  in  the 
evening.  Dined  at  Dr.  Dayton's.  Spent  the  20th  and  21st  at  the  Farms. 
The  weather  rainy. 

Sunday,  22d.  Preached  at  the  Plains  with  Mr.  Stelle,  who  preached  at 
six  o'clock  at  Morris  town.  Tarried  at  Brother  Joseph's.  A  terrible 
rain  at  night.  My  brother  very  siek  with  the  bilious  fever.  Jeremiah 
and  son  and  daughter  tarried  there  also.  Monday,  23d.  Visited  Uncle 
Joseph  Randolph  ;  in  a  deep  consumption,  to  all  appearance,  but  comfort 
able  in  mind.  From  thence,  through  Samptown,  I  visited  Sister  Tinglcy, 
who  has  broken  her  right  arm  by  a  fall,  and  dislocated  her  wrist.  Dined 
and  went  to  Dead  River  to  Brother  Jno.  Manning's  and  tarried  the  night. 
His  eldest  daughter  sick.  His  farm  is  much  improved  since  I  saw  it,  and 
he  lives  comfortably.  Visited  Uncle  William  Stites,  Mr.  Tingley,  Cousin 
Jno.  Manning,  Mr.  Miller,  Mr.  Brooks,  and  returned  to  the  Farms  on 
Tuesday  evening,  24th.  Wednesday  went  to  Elizabethtown,  visited  friends, 
and  tarried  two  days,  returning  to  the  Farms  Thursday  evening.  Ad 
miral  Arbuthnot's  fleet  said  to  have  arrived  at  New  York,  but  the  partic 
ulars  not  come  to  hand.  Friday,  27th.  Tarried  at  home.  The  season 
very  sickly,  but  not  mortal  yet.  Yesterday  the  weather  cleared  up  cool 
and  fine.  Continued  at  home  Saturday. 

Lord's  Day,  Aug.  29.  Peached  at  Lyon's  Farms.  The  audience  serious 
and  attentive.  Tarried  at  home  till  Thursday,  the  2d  of  September,  and 
then,  accompanied  by  parents,  visited  Stites,  Woodruff,  dined,  and  then 
proceeded  to  Bonham  Town,  calling  on  two  of  the  sisters  on  the  way,  and 
observing  the  desolations  at  Woodbridge.  Sept.  3.  Rainy,  but  in  the 
afternoon  went  to  Joseph  Manning's ;  a  heavy  rain  on  the  way ;  found 
him  and  two  children  sick.  Sept.  4.  Went  to  Joseph  Tingley's  ;  found 
my  sister  better  ;  preached  at  the  meeting-house,  Lord's  Day.  Saw  many 
old  friends  and  acquaintances,  and  all  my  brothers  but  Joseph.  After 


1779. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  281 


bidding  the  last  farewell,  returned  to  the  Farms  in  the  evening,  calling  on 
Mr.  Miller  on  the  way,  who  is  much  recovered.  Tamed  at  home  Mon 
day,  6th,  and  were  visited  by  Sister  Woodruff.  The  season  remarkably 
sickly  throughout  the  country,  but  the  mortality  not  very  great.  The 
complaints  are  intermitting  fevers  and  agues.  Tuesday,  1th.  Tarried  at 
home  and  rested ;  in  the  afternoon  preached.  Mr.  Miller  came,  and  we 
had  something  of  a  comfortable  season. 

Wednesday,  Sept.  8.  Set  out  for  Providence.  Were  accompanied  by 
parents  four  miles.  Left  Sister  Woodruff  at  papa's  ;  called  and  rested  at 
Dr.  Smith's  at  Chatham,  seven  miles.  Dined  at  Col.  Dunham's  in 
Morristown,  seven  miles.  Were  kindly  treated.  The  family  sick,  and 
himself  indisposed.  Set  out  at  four  o'clock  and  reached  Rockaway,  nine 
miles.  Tarried  at  Jackson's,  at  the  Forge.  A  thunder-shower  in  the 
night,  and  bedbugs,  prevented  sleep  ;  otherwise  good  entertainment. 
Paid  six  dollars.  The  road  much  better  this  way  than  over  the  moun 
tains.  Set  out  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  to  Esquire  Moses  Tuttlc's, 
five  miles.  The  road  bad.  Breakfasted  and  reached  Davenport's  to 
dinner;  the  road  extremely  bad ;  distance  ten  miles.  Afternoon  visited 
Col.  Soward's,  ten  miles.  The  road  bad ;  tarried  the  night,  and  were 
kindly  entertained.  10th.  Travelled  to  Col.  Hath  Horn's,  fourteen  miles, 
and  dined  ;  afternoon  reached  Mr.  Gano's,  three  and  one  half  miles.  The 
road  better  over  the  mountains,  though  the  mountains  exceedingly  bad. 
Saturday,  llth.  Tamed  at  Mr.  Gano's. 

Lord's  Day,  preached  at  Warwick  twice.  The  assembly  full  and  very 
solemn.  After  meeting  dined  at  Mr.  Beard's,  who  had  prepared  an  ele 
gant  dinner,  and  were  treated  very  hospitably.  Tarried  at  Mr.  Gano's 
Monday.  Took  a  very  great  cold.  Mrs.  Manning  but  indifferently  well, 
and  Sally  and  Dicky  sick.  Tuesday,  Sept.  14.  Set  out,  dined  at  Mr. 
Owen's,  and  reached  Mr.  Fought's  in  the  evening.  Met  Lieut.  Hubbel 
on  the  road,  who  came  out  from  Newburgh  for  this  purpose.  Met  also 
Capt.  Wily  from  Providence,  who  informs  me  they  are  well  in  general. 
We  were  received  and  treated  very  kindly  at  Mr.  Fought's,  where  we 
lodged  ;  and  Wednesday,  15th,  I  visited  Isaac  Belnap,  and  was  visited  by 
Mr.  Edmonds.  Preached  in  the  afternoon  at  the  Continental  store. 
The  people  attentive  and  affected,  and  very  desirous  of  another  sermon. 
Visited  Dea.  Lawrence  at  the  Landing,  and  returned  in  the  evening  to 
our  lodgings.  Ever  since  Sunday  the  wind  fresh  at  the  northeast,  cloudy 
and  very  cold  ;  at  its  first  rising  a  boat  was  upset  in  this  ferry  Sunday 
morning,  and  two  young  ladies  were  drowned. 
24* 


282  M  A  N  N I N  G    A  N  D  CHAP.  VI. 

Thursday,  Sept.  16.  Went  down  to  West  Point  by  water  in  Lieut. 
Hubbel's  boat.  The  French  Ambassador's  secretaries  in  company.  One  of 
them  spoke  English  ;  a  most  accomplished  gentleman,  and  the  handsomest 
Frenchman  I  ever  saw.  The  other  was  agreeable,  as  were  their  attend 
ant  gentleman,  but  could  not  converse  much  in  English.  We  had  an 
agreeable  passage,  and  were  greatly  entertained  by  the  highlands  through 
which  we  passed.  Those  huge,  vast  mountains,  with  their  cloudy  tops, 
approach  near  together  as  the  river  narrows.  At  about  eleven  o'clock  we 
reached  Gen.  Washington's  quarters,  —  a  beautiful,  level  spot  one  mile 
north  of  the  Point,  surrounded  by  those  precipices.  His  Excellency, the 
Ambassador,  with  a  number  of  the  generals,  were  gone  to  reconnoitre  the 
fort.  There  I  met  Dr.  Cochrane,  Surgeon  General  of  the  army,  who 
seemed  very  glad  to  find  me  in  camp.  After  examining  a  correct  map 
of  this  fort,  shown  us  by  one  of  the  General's  aids,  and  taking  a  drink,  we 
sailed  over  to  the  Point,  which  is  fitted  by  nature  to  form  an  exceeding 
strong  port.  Up  to  the  top  of  the  Point  is  a  great  ascent,  and  there  a 
plain  on  which  stands  Fort  Arnold,  at  the  last  part  of  the  Point.  A  very 
strong  fortress,  with  excellent  bomb-proofs,  and  bastions  below  to  defend 
the  great  chain  stretched  across  just  after  the  river  turns  west.  The  op 
posite  shore  is  also  strongly  fortified  to  defend  the  chain,  from  what  is 
called  the  island,  and  all  the  heights  also  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  to 
prevent  their  landing  and  bombarding  the  fort.  These  works,  viewed 
from  the  Point,  look  most  beautiful.  These  were  shown  us  by  Gen.  Mc- 
Dugal,  who  commands  this  fortress.  Fort  Putnam  stands  on  a  great  em 
inence  at  half  a  mile  distance  west  from  this,  and  commands  Fort  Arnold. 
This  is  the  strongest  work  ever  raised  in  English  America,  and  is  utterly, 
from  its  situation,  inaccessible  but  on  the  northern  side,  where  all  the 
force  of  art  is  exerted  to  strengthen  it  by  walls  without  walls,  the  outer 
most  of  which  is  laid  with  lime  and  stone,  with  bomb-proofs,  etc.,  etc. 
This  is  also  defended  by  all  the  commanding  heights.  The  approach  of  an 
army  by  land  is  next  to  impossible  from  the  west  side  of  the  river,  as  there 
are  but  few  ways,  and  those  almost  impassable,  and  all  strongly  defended. 
The  troops  were  encamped  on  both  sides  pf  the  river  on  the  most  conve 
nient  grounds.  I  dined  at  Gen.  Greene's  quarters  with  his  family,  Mr. 
Olney,  Col.  Morris,  Major  Littlefield,  and  Col.  Webb,  as  the  General  had 
not  returned.  Soon  after,  he,  with  Gen.  Knox,  returned,  with  whom  had 
a  little  chat.  Shortly  afterward,  his  Excellency,  the  French  Ambassador, 
and  Baron  Steuben,  with  their  retinues,  returned,  to  all  of  whom  I  was  in 
troduced  by  Gen.  Greene.  The  Ambassador  is  a  good-looking,  ruddy- 


1779.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 

complexioned  man  as  I  ever  saw  for  a  Frenchman.  His  family  are 
extremely  polite.1 

Having  viewed  the  works,  we  returned  up  the  river,  had  a  good  time,  and 
arrived  at  New  Windsor  after  sunset,  and  at  Newborough  in  the  evening. 
Friday,  Sept.  17.  The  morning  was  foggy,  which  prevented  our  set 
ting  out  early.  Crossed  the  river  with  an  easy  time,  and  set  out  from  the 
Continental  Ferry  between  ten  and  eleven  o'clock.  Passing  Fishkill,  took 
the  D anbury  road,  stopped  at  a  private  house  to  oat,  and  then  reached 
Col.  Luddington's,  twenty-two  miles ;  then  reached  Esquire  Patterson's, 
four  miles,  at  Fredericksburg.  The  road  good  fifteen  miles,  and  then 
exceeding  bad,  over  rocks  and  mountains.  Saturday,  18th.  Set  out  at 
sunrise.  The  road  good  three  miles,  and  then  exceeding  bad  to  Danbury, 
fourteen  miles,  where  we  arrived  at  eleven  o'clock.  Put  up  at  Capt. 
Clarke's.  Good  entertainment.  The  ruins  of  the  town  are  affecting, 
marked  with  the  traces  of  British  inhumanity.2  This  town  was  consid- 
erbly  large,  and  prettily  situated  between  the  mountains,  with  a  good  soil. 
Apples  are  plenty  here.  Some  few  were  to  be  seen  at  the  river,  and  a 
gradual  increase.  The  Indian  corn  excellent  on  this  side  of  the  river,  and 
the  pastures  good.  Very  difficult  .to  get  good  entertainment.  At  two 
o'clock  set  out  through  Bethel,  to  which  is  a  good  road  three  miles.  Then 
we  ascend  the  shocking  mountains  which  reach  to  Reading,  five  miles,  Bitt's 
Tavern.  This  is  a  pretty  village  on  a  hill.  From  thence  we  reached 
North  Fairfield,  five  miles,  to  Esquire  Wakeman's,  a  private  house.  Had 
good  entertainment. 

Sabbath  morning,  19th.    Reached  Greenfield,  Mr.  Tennent's,3  six  miles. 

1  This  invitation  to  visit  West  Point,  as  extended  to  Manning  and  his  wife, 
through  Lieut.  Hubbel,  and  the  attention  shown  them  by  the  generals  and  offi 
cers  in  command,  afford  a  pleasing  illustration  of  Dr.  Manning's  high  character 
and  personal  influence.    He  associated  with  the  first  men  of  his  times,  and  on 
terms  of  equality.    Few  persons  of  his  day  could  be  called  his  superiors,  save  in 
the  externals  of  worldly  prosperity. 

2  On  the  26th  of  April,  1777,  about  two  thousand  British  troops,  commanded  by 
Gov.  William  Tyron,  reached  the  village  of  Danbury  between  one  and  two 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  military  stores  in  that 
town.    They  left  the  next  morning,  after  committing  various  excesses,  burning 
the  new  meeting-house,  nineteen  dwellings,  twenty-two  stores  and  barns,  and  an 
immense  amount  of  stores  and  provisions  for  the  American  army. 

3  Rev.  William  MacKay  Tennent,  a  distinguished  Presbyterian  minister.     He 
graduated  at  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1763,  one  year  after  Dr.  Manning. 
In  1772  he  became  pastor  of  the  church  in  Greenfield,  resigning  in  1781  to  take 
charge  of  a  church  near  Philadelphia.    He  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  New  Jer- 


284  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VI. 

Were  most  kindly  received.  I  preached  twice.  A  large  congregation, 
and  attentive.  Drank  tea  at  Dr.  Rogers's,  Mr.  Tennent's  sister,  an  agree 
able  people,  who  spent  the  evening  with  us  at  our  lodgings.  The  road 
stony,  but  not  so  bad  here.  The  husbandry  very  good  through  all  this 
rough  country,  in  which  are  raised  good  crops  of  wheat.  Great  crops  of 
flax  are  raised  in  these  parts,  though  not  so  good  this  year.  The  hus 
bandry  in  Greenfield  is  good,  and  the  inhabitants  very  good  livers.  Mr. 
Tennent  well  settled.  Monday  morning,  Sept.  20.  Went  to  Fairfield, 
three  miles,  and  viewed  the  ruins  of  that  once  beautiful  place,  which 
shocked  me  exceedingly.  Very  few  buildings  remain.  Ninety-six  houses, 
besides  barns  and  stores,  were  burned.  From  thence  reached  Esquire 
Hubbel's  at  Stratford,  three  miles,  to  dinner.  Visited  Mr.  Ross,  who  is 
sick  with  the  fever  and  ague.  There  I  saw  Mr.  Elliot,  of  Fail-field,  who 
is  also  sick,  as  indeed  are  a  great  part  of  the  people  in  this  neighborhood. 
Peggy  not  at  home.  The  family  very  kind  ;  tarried  here  all  night.  She 
arrived  in  the  evening ;  is  kindly  treated  by  the  family,  who  are  plain,  good- 
living  farmers.  I  took  a  walk  to  the  southward  of  the  road,  and  vieAved  a 
most  beautiful,  level  country,  suited  to  wheat,  and  the  inhabitants  very  good 
livers ;  their  buildings  very  good,  and  their  crops  excellent.  Spent  the 
evening  at  Esquire  Brother's,  a  likely,  agreeable  man.  Tuesday,  Sept.  21. 
Set  out  at  nine  o'clock,  through  Stratford,  five  miles.  The  inhabitants 
here  had  moved  out  their  effects,  expecting  a  visit  from  the  enemy.  An 
agreeable  town,  situated  on  a  river  navigable  twelve  miles  above  the  town. 
Crossing  the  ferry,  reached  Milford,  five  miles,  and  dined  at  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Sherman's.  This  town  large  and  rich,  but  their  buildings  old  and  in  bad 
order  in  general.  Their  husbandry  through  here  good,  and  their  crops 
excellent ;  plenty  of  apples.  Visited  the  other  minister  of  the  town ; 
was  kindly  treated,  and  invited  to  dine.  Here  met  Mr.  Elliot  again,  with 
the  ague  on  him,  on  his  way  to  Boston.  Went  in  company  with  the  min 
isters  to  the  Freeman's  meeting,  to  prox  for  deputies  to  nominate  their 
council,  etc.,  for  the  election  next  spring.  Was  importuned  to  open  the 
meeting  by  prayer,  which  is  their  usage.  Attended  in  order  to  observe 
their  manner  of  proceeding.  The  clergy  in  this  State  vote  for  their 


Bey  College  from  1785  to  1808.  He  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity 
from  Yale  College  in  1794;  was  moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Fres- 
byterian  Church  in  1797.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rogers,  of 
New  York.  Dr.  Alexander  speaks  of  him  as  having  a  very  sweet  temper,  and 
distinguished  for  his  hospitality. 


1779.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  285 

officers,  and  often  speak  to  direct  in  the  choice  of  men.  They  have  great 
influence  on  the  people.  When  the  meeting  is  opened  by  the  constables, 
the  people  are  requested  to  bring  in  their  votes  for  their  first  deputy  ; 
which  done,  if  one  has  not  more  than  all  the  rest,  it  is  declared  that  he  is 
not  chosen ;  and  after  declaring  the  numbers  for  the  respective  candi 
dates,  they  are  requested  to  bring  in  again,  and  so  continue  to  do  until  he 
is  elected.  Twenty  names  at  most  are  put  in  by  each  voter  for  general 
officers,  out  of  which  the  twelve  highest  are  chosen  by  the  assembly  for 
the  spring  choice.  After  gratifying  my  curiosity  here,  returned  to  Mr. 
Sherman's,  dined,  and  set  out  for  New  Haven,  ten  miles,  where  we  ar 
rived  in  the  evening.  The  road  bad  most  of  the  way.  Went  to  Mr.  Sa- 
bin's,  who  was  ill,  and  his  wife  from  home.  Was  put  to  difficulty  to  find 
lodging  and  keeping  for  our  horse,  as  the  town  had  been  sacked  by  the 
enemy,  and  the  people  had  their  effects  out  of  town.  Tarried  at  Mr. 
Lyman's.  Indifferent  quarters,  but  a  high  price.  The  town  shows  but 
few  marks  of  outrage  to  travellers  passing  through,  as  the  British  did  not 
burn  here.  Wednesday,  Sept.  22.  Set  out  at  seven  o'clock,  having  taken 
breakfast.  Took  the  road  to  Durham,  crossed  the  bridge,  and  the  long 
causeway  one  half  mile  over  the  marsh.  The  first  six  or  seven  miles 
very  sandy,  then  a  good  soil,  and  well  improved  to  and  through  Paug,  a 
pleasant  village,  nine  miles.  Mr.  Williams,  minister,  invited  me  to  his 
house,  but  we  could  only  stop  to  oat.  From  hence  to  Durham,  excellent 
land  and  husbandry,  and  the  buildings  uncommonly  elegant.  Durham  a 
considerable  town,  situated  on  a  hill ;  the  buildings  good  ;  distance  nine 
miles.  Dined  at  Landlord  Camp's.  The  people  agreeable.  After  set 
ting  out  was  stopped  by  General  Wadsworth,  and  invited  to  call,  but  time 
would  not  admit.  Reached  Middlctown,  seven  miles,  at  five  o'clock. 
Put  up  at  Capt.  Warner's.  Was  visited  by  Major  Otis.  Most  kindly 
entertained ;  tarried  Thursday,  visited  Mr.  Otis,  Mr.  Hunting,  and  Capt. 
William  Warner's  lady.  Tarried  all  night,  and  set  out  Friday,  24th,  for 
Weathersfield.  Crossed  the  Great  Meadows,  but  the  bridge  having  fallen 
down,  were  obliged  to  ferry  over,  with  difficulty.  The  upper  houses  form 
a  pretty  village.  It  began  to  rain  moderately,  which  lasted  to  Weathers- 
field.  The  town  here  is  beautiful,  and  the  inhabitants  appear  to  live  well, 
as  the  soil  is  exuberant.  Vast  quantities  of  onions  are  raised  here  for 
importation.  Dined  at  the  tavern,  next  south  of  the  meeting-house,  and 
then  examined  their  fine  structure ;  dimensions  eighty-four  by  fifty  feet, 
neatly  finished  with  an  elegant  pulpit,  and  the  most  elegant  steeple  I  have 
seen  on  the  journey.  Set  out  in  the  rain  to  Hartford,  four  miles.  Called 


286  MANNING  AND  BROWN  UNIVERSITY.        CHAP.  VI. 

at  Capt.  Bull's,  and  found  them  well,  and  at  Mr.  Strong's  and  Dr. 
Smith's,  but  found  them  gone  a  journey.  Passed  the  ferry,  and  reached 
the  Widow  Bidwel's,  in  East  Hartford,  where  we  lodged.  Were  kindly 
entertained.  Set  out  Saturday,  25th,  at  seven  o'clock.  The  road  sandy 
from  the  river  ten  miles.  Gated  there  ;  found  the  road  wet  seven  miles, 
to  Kimball's,  where  we  again  oated.  Dined  at  Mansfield,  at  Mr.  Ephraim 
Rolins's,  a  Christian  friend,  seven  miles.  The  road  bad,  and  from  hence, 
six  miles,  to  Mr.  Snow's  tavern,  in  Westford,  where  we  fed.  Were  hailed 
by  Mr.  Welch  on  our  way,  and  invited  to  tarry  and  spend  the  Sabbath  ; 
but  we  meant  to  reach  Capt.  Bowles's,  which  is  six  miles  from  Snow's, 
where  we  arrived  in  the  evening,  much  fatigued.  Mrs.  Bowles  brought 
forth  a  son  this  night. 

Lord's  Day,  Sept.  26.  In  company  with  Capt.  Bowles,  went  to  Wood 
stock  to  Elder  Ledoyt's  meeting.  Preached  in  the  afternoon.  The  audi 
ence  solemn  and  affected.  The  day  being  very  rainy,  tarried  all  night, 
and  thereby  disappointed  a  number  who  had  assembled  for  meeting  at 
Capt.  Bowles's.  Heard  of  Mr.  Ledoyt  a  pleasing  account  of  their  jour 
ney  into  the  northern  parts  last  spring,  and  of  the  remarkable  spread  of 
the  gospel  and  of  the  work  of  God  in  various  parts.  Monday,  Sept.  27. 
Set  out  in  company  with  the  Elder.  Found  Mrs.  Bowles  better.  At  ten 
o'clock  proceeded  to  Jeremiah  Brown's,  three  miles,  dined,  and  reached 
Mr.  Thurber's  before  night,  five  miles.  Were  visited  by  several  friends. 
Tarried  the  night,  and  on  Tuesday  to  dine  ;  then  reached  Capt,  Corlis's, 
six  miles.  The  Indian  corn  but  indifferent  through  these  parts,  but  ap 
ples  plenty.  Throughout  our  whole  journey  the  earth  remarkably  well 
clothed  with  grass.  Visited  Jno.  Jones's  family  in  the  evening.  Wednes 
day,  Sept.  29.  In  the  morning  sc't  out  for  Mr.  John  Brown's  in  Glouces 
ter,  twelve  miles,  where  we  dined.  Keached  Providence  at  six  o'clock, 
the  road  better  than  usual ;  being  just  five  months  to  an  hour  absent  from 
home,  and  having  experienced  the  abundant  goodness  of  God  in  the 
journey,  in  that  we  had  never  been  molested  by  ill-disposed  persons,  nor 
maimed  by  the  extremely  bad  roads  and  dangerous  mountains  over  which 
we  passed.  May  the  Lord  fill  our  hearts  with  true  thankfulness  for  his 
abundant  mercies  through  our  whole  life,  and  enable  us  to  devote  to  his 
service  lives  which  have  been  peculiarly  his  care ! 


CHAPTER    VII. 

1780-1783. 


Meeting  of  the  Corporation  in  1780  — College  instruction  revived  — Manning's 
perseverance  —  Second  interruption  —  Meeting  of  the  Corporation  in  1782  — 
Resolution  to  apply  to  Congress  for  damages  done  to  the  College  edifice  dur 
ing  the  war  —  First  meeting  of  the  Warren  Association  in  Providence  —  Illus 
tration  of  the  efforts  made  by  our  fathers  to  educate  and  improve  the  "  rising 
generation  "  —  Letter  to  Hon.  David  Howell  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Benjamin  Wal- 
lin  —  Brief  view  of  the  Religious  Condition  of  the  Country  —  Public  exercises  of 
Commencement  resumed  —  Manning's  purpose  to  proceed  to  England  to  so 
licit  funds  for  the  College  — His  memorial  to  the  Corporation  on  this  subject 
—  Second  letter  to  Hon.  David  Howell,  giving  an  account  of  Commencement 
and  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Corporation  —  Petition  to  the  King  of  France 
for  his  patronage  of  the  College—  Sketch  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Waterhouse  — Let 
ter  from  Thomas  Jefferson  in  regard  to  the  aforesaid  petition  to  the  King  — 
Extracts  from  a  Digest  of  the  College  Laws  by  President  Manning  —  Remarks 
of  Tristam  Burgess  in  regard  to  evening  speaking  on  the  chapel  stage  —  Man 
ning's  ideas  of  college  government  and  discipline  — Letter  to  Henry  Kane,  of 
London  —Letter  to  Rev.  John  Ryland  —  Influence  of  the  College  in  favor  of 
civil  and  religious  liberty  —  Letter  to  Manning  from  Rev.  Dr.  Stennctt  —  An 
ecdote  of  Thomas  Mullet,  Esq.,  respecting  George  Washington—  Reply  to  Dr. 
Stennett,  giving  a  history  of  the  times  during  the  war;  John  Murray;  Jemima 
Wilkinson  ;  The  "  Elect  Lady  " ;  increase  of  religious  toleration  in  New  Eng 
land;  calamities  of  the  war;  condition  of  the  College;  its  influence  in  promot 
ing  Baptist  sentiments;  character  of  its  library ;  plan  for  an  Education  Society, 
etc. —  Origin  of  the  Rhode  Island  Baptist  Education  Society  —Letter  to  Dr. 
Thomas  Llewelyn,  urging  him  to  endow  the  College,  and  thus  give  it  his  name, 
according  to  a  provision  of  the  Charter  — Extract  from  an  address  of  the 
Warren  Association  pertaining  to  education,  and  especially  to  the  College. 

IN  the  Providence  Gazette  for  the  year  1780,  we  find 
the  following  notice :  — 

The  members  of  the  Corporation  of  Rhode  Island  College  are  ear 
nestly  requested  to  meet  on  Friday,  the  5th  of  May  next,  at  nine  o'clock 


288  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VII. 

A.  M.,  at  the  College  Hall,  to  transact  business  of  the  highest  importance 
to  the  institution,  which  will  then  come  before  them.  It  is  not  doubted 
but  that  every  gentleman  who  has  the  welfare  of  the  seminary  at  heart 
will  attend  if  possible. 

STEPHEN  HOPKINS,  Chancellor. 

JAMES  MANNING,  President. 

JABEZ  BOWEN, 

THOMAS  EYRES. 
PROVIDENCE,  April  28,  1780. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  corporation,  held  agreeably  to 
the  foregoing  advertisement,  there  were  present,  of  the 
Fellows,  the  President,  Hon.  Jabez  Bowen,  Dr.  Thomas 
Eyres,  and  David  Howell ;  of  the  Trustees,  Chancellor 
Hopkins,  Henry  Ward,  Nicholas  Brown,  Joseph  Russell, 
Daniel  Cahoun,  William  Russell,  Hon.  Nicholas  Cooke, 
Joseph  Brown,  John  Jenckes,  and  John  Brown. 

The  object  of  the  meeting  appears  to  have  been  the  re 
vival  of  college  instruction,  with  a  view  to  the  commence 
ment  of  the  exercises,  which,  since  Dec.  1776,  had  been 
suspended.  President  Manning  presented  a  proposal,  stat 
ing  on  what  terms  he  would  instruct  such  youth  as  might 
apply  to  him  for  this  purpose.  The  proposal  received  the 
approval  of  the  corporation,  and  he  was  accordingly,  in 
the  language  of  the  record,  "  ordered  to  begin."  In  con 
sideration  of  the  times,  and  the  great  scarcity  of  money, 
his  salary,  which  had  formerly  been  £100,  was  fixed  at 
£60,  or  $300.  Few  persons,  like  Manning,  would  have  had 
the  courage  and  perseverance  to  revive  and  carry  on  the 
instruction  of  the  college,  amid  the  uncertainties  of  the 
war,  the  general  poverty  and  distress  that  filled  the  land, 
and  the  despondency  and  gloom  into  which  the  nation,  at 
this  period,  was  plunged.  In  this  instance  we  have  an 
illustration  of  his  peculiar  fitness  to  lead  in  an  enterprise 


1780-1783.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  289 

which,  eighteen  years  before,  his  friends  at  Philadelphia 
had  intrusted  to  his  hands. 

"President  Manning,"  says  Backus,  "now  engaged 
again  in  the  work  of  education.  But  further  interruptions 
were  in  store  for  him.  On  the  25th  of  June,  1780,  while 
he  was  preaching  at  the  church,  it  being  Sunday,  the  col 
lege  edifice  was  a  second  time  seized,  by  the  order  of  the 
council  of  war,  for  a  hospital  for  the  French  troops,  who 
held  it  until  May  27th,  1782." 

The  next  meeting  of  the  corporation  was  held  on  the 
4th  of  September,  1782,  and  was  fully  attended.  Among 
the  clergymen  present  from  Massachusetts,  we  notice  the 
familiar  names  of  Backus,  Stillman,  and  Smith.  The 
following  young  gentlemen,  who,  amid  all  the  embarrass 
ments  of  the  college,  had  prosecuted  and  completed  their 
course  of  studies  tinder  President  Manning,  were  ex 
amined,  and  duly  admitted  to  the  degree  of  Bachelor  in 
the  Arts  ;  namely,  Obadiah  Brown,  John  Morley  Green, 
Joseph  Jenckes,  Alexander  Jones,  William  McClellan, 
Samuel  Snow,  and  Levi  Wheaton. 

Of  this  number,  Green  and  Snow  had  served  with  credit 
in  the  army.  Wheaton,  who  died  in  1851,  was  made  a 
trustee  during  the  Presidency  of  Dr.  Maxcy.  In  1815  he 
was  appointed  Professor  of  the  Theory  and  Practice  of 
Medicine.  He  was  distinguished,  says  one  who  knew  him 
well,  for  his  learning  and  skill  as  a  physician,  and  for  his 
taste  and  varied  acquirements  in  literature. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  corporation,  says  the  chronicler, 
"  the  deplorable  situation  of  the  seminary  was  particu 
larly  taken  into  consideration  ;  whereupon  it  was  resolved 
that  the  edifice,  which  had  been  long  occupied  as  a  bar 
rack  and  a  hospital  by  the  American  and  French  troops, 
should  be  directly  repaired  ;  and  ample  provision  was 
25 


290  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VII. 

made  for  the  immediate  instruction  of  youth  in  all  the 
branches  of  polite  and  useful  literature." 

It  was  also  Resolved,  "That  Joseph  Brown,  Henry 
Ward,  William  Russell,  and  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Esq., 
be  a  committee  to  draft  a  petition  to  the  Continental  Con 
gress,  stating  the  account  of  the  rents  due  and  the  dam 
ages  done  to  the  college  edifice  during  its  occupancy  by 
the  American  forces  and  the  troops  of  his  most  Christian 
Majesty;  that  they  report  the  same  to  the  Chancellor  and 
President;  and  that  on  their  approbation  of  it,  they  sign 
the  said  petition,  in  behalf  of  this  Corporation,  and  forward 
it,  together  with  the  former  petition,  which  was  prepared 
some  time  since  by  the  Hon.  Jonathan  Arnold,  Esq. ;  and 
the  delegates  in  Congress  for  the  State  of  Rhode  Island 
are  requested  to  use  their  influence  to  get  the  same 
granted." 

The  week  following,  the  Warren  Association  convened 
for  the  first  time  in  Providence.  Fifteen  years  had  now 
elapsed  since  its  organization  at  Warren,  and  notwithstand 
ing  the  efforts  of  Manning  and  others,  the  parent  church 
of  the  denomination  had,  during  this  period,  withheld  its 
cooperation  as  a  body,  and  refused  to  join  the  Association. 
The  opposition  of  many  of  its  members  to  singing  in  pub 
lic  worship,  and  their  adherence  to  the  doctrine  of  laying 
on  of  hands,  were  the  principal  reasons,  doubtless,  why 
they  did  not,  at  an  earlier  day,  cooperate  with  the  neigh 
boring  churches,  in  united  efforts  for  the  public  good. 
From  the  minutes  of  this  meeting  we  copy  the  following 
extracts,  as  an  illustration  of  the  efforts  made  by  our 
fathers  for  the  education  of  the  youth  of  the  "  rising  gen 
eration"  :  — 

"  As  the  instruction  and  morals  of  the  rising  generation  are  objects  of 
very  great  importance,  Voted,  That  a  spelling-book,  containing  a  good 


1780-1783.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  291 

English  grammar  and  the  Baptist  catechism,  be  published;  and  Elder 
Foster  is  desired  to  prepare  said  book  for  the  press,  in  conjunction  with 
President  Manning,  Elders  Backus,  Stillman,  and  Skillman,  to  be  pre 
sented  at  our'next  annual  meeting  for  examination ;  and  in  the  interim, 
for  the  encouragement  of  this  undertaking,  it  is  recommended  to  the 
churches  to  raise  by  subscription  what  moneys  they  can,  and  send  the 
same  to  the  Association  next  year." 

"  The  Association,  from  a  representation  made  to  them,  by  the  corpo 
ration  of  the  college  in  Providence,  of  the  low  state  of  the  funds  of  said 
college,  and  the  urgent  necessity  of  increasing  them  in  order  to  support 
suitable  instructors  therein,  and  from  an  idea  of  the  great  importance  of 
good  education,  have  taken  into  consideration,  as  the  most  probable 
method  to  accomplish  this  valuable  end,  the  recommendation  of  a  sub 
scription  throughout  all  the  Baptist  societies  on  this  continent,  as  well  as 
to  all  the  friends  of  literature  of  every  denomination,  on  the  following 
conditions  : 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  promise  and  engage  to  pay  the  several  sums  af 
fixed  to  our  names,  to ,  to  be  by  him  paid  to  John  Brown,  Esq.,  of 

Providence,  treasurer  of  the  corporation,  or  his  successor  in  said  office, 
or  order ;  to  be  placed  at  interest,  and  the  interest  only  to  be  applied  for 
the  above  purpose. 

«  N.  B.  —  The  several  churches  arc  desired  to  insert  in  the  above  blank 
the  name  of  the  most  suitable  person  in  the  society  for  this  service." 

To  his  early  associate  in  the  instruction  of  the  college, 
Manning  thus  writes  :  — 

PROVIDENCE,  Nov.  19,  1782. 
To  THE  HONORABLE  DAVID  HOWELL, 

DELEGATE  IN  CONGRESS  : 

gIK  .  —  This  will  come  to  hand  too  late  to  announce  to  you  the  good 
news  concerning  the  fate  of  five  per  cent.  This  was  forwarded  before  I 
reached  here  ;  but  my  letter  may  serve  to  congratulate  you  on  the  impor 
tant  event.  You  will  not  think  strange  that  I  have  been  at  home  twelve 
days  and  have  never  attempted  to  write  until  now,  when  I  inform  you 
that  eight  days  before  I  reached  here  I  was  seized  with  a  severe  fever,  with 
which  I  travelled,  though  in  great  distress,  near  two  hundred  miles,  and 
of  which  I  have  been  ever  since  confined.  Though  it  has  in  a  measure 
left  me,  yet  I  am  still  very  weak. 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VII. 

On  my  arrival,  I  sent  and  delivered  your  letters  and  those  of  Dr.  Ar 
nold,  desiring  Mrs.  Ho  well,  by  Jeremiah,  to  come  and  see  me,  as  I  could 
not  go  to  her,  which  she  would  have  done,  but  the  French  army  are  here, 
encamped  on  the  lands  of  Jeremiah  Dexter,  and  those  of  his  brother's 
heirs.  The  town  is  full  of  officers,  and  she  is  crowded  with  them  as  well 
as  others.  The  family,  however,  are  all  well.  I  found  my  family  well, 
and  am  told  that  the  town  is  healthy  in  general.  I  am  exceeding  sorry 
that  the  committee  appointed  to  prepare  and  forward  the  papers  relative 
to  the  college,  have  not  yet  done  this.  Joseph  Brown  tells  me  he  has 
done  everything  in  his  power,  but  Mr.  Ward  has  still  disappointed  them, 
by  one  means  or  other.  When  it  will  be  accomplished,  I  know  not.  The 
edifice  has  been  cleaned,  and  is  now  undergoing  repairs.  It  is  tenable 
for  students.  A  steward  has  moved  in,  Mr.  Foster.  A  tutor  is  also  en 
gaged,  one  Mr.  Eobbins,  of  Wethersfield,  who  is  daily  expected.  The 
number  of  students  is  very  small  as  yet.  I  still  retain  the  idea  of  travel 
ling  and  soliciting  donations  for  the  college  ;  and  I  believe  the  corporation 
will  approve  it.  But  whom  we  shall  get  to  supply  my  place  in  the  in 
terim,  I  know  not  yet.  I  am  unable  to  attend  even  to  my  own  business. 
The  active  executor  of  my  father-in-law's  estate,  Dr.  Dayton,  could  not 
collect  any  money  for  Dicky,  son  of  Richard,  who  came  with  me,  before 
I  came  away,  but  expected  to  get  some  before  you  return.  I  have  desired 
him  to  have  it  in  readiness  by  the  middle  of  December,  and  left  at  my 
mamma's,  and  informed  him  that  I  expect  you  to  bring  it.  I  wish  you  to 
come  that  way  and  take  it  if  there  ;  if  not,  please  to  call  on  the  Doctor  at 
town  for  it  and  bring  it,  and  I  will  cheerfully  make  good  any  expense  it 
may  cause  you. 

Dr.  Randal  is  now  here,  and  informs  me  that  he  has  written  Dr.  Ar 
nold  by  this  conveyance  fully  upon  all  matters  relative  to  the  family,  etc. 
Mrs.  Manning  joins  in  cordial  respects  to  you  and  the  Doctor,  with,  sir, 
Your  very  humble  servant, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

p.  S.  —  I  expect  Sister  Woodruffe  will  be  in  your  city  before  this 
reaches  you.  I  should  esteem  it  a  particular  favor  if  you  and  the  Doctor 
would  call  to  see  her  as  you  have  opportunity. 


The  following  letter,  addressed  to  his  friend  the  Rev. 
Benjamin  Wallin,  of  London,  of  whose  death  he  had  not 


1780-1783.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  293 

been  informed,  presents  at  this  time  a  striking  view  of  the 
religious  condition  of  the  New  England  during  the  war :  — 


NEW  JERSEY,  May  23,  1783. 

DEAR  SIR  : 

I  feel  happy  that  an  intercourse  is  again  opened  between  the  two  coun 
tries,  after  an  eight  years'  interruption  by  a  most  calamitous  war,  and 
that  I  can  again  address  a  letter  to  my  much  esteemed  friend  and  father 
in  the  ministry,  with  hopes  of  its  reaching  hirn  before  his  dismission  from 
the  field  of  labor.  Three  years  ago  the  past  winter,  I  received  a  letter 
from  you,  accompanied  with  a  small  box  of  books,  a  very  agreeable  pres 
ent,  for  which  you  have  my  most  cordial  thanks.  It  came  safe,  except 
the  "Prodigal"  for  Mr.  Stillman,  and  your  poetical  composition  directed  to 
me,  which  were  lost  by  the  way.  The  rest  were  delivered  as  directed. 
Your  view  of  the  parable  of  the  prodigal  son  is  to  me  the  most  satisfac 
tory  that  I  have  met  with.  It  has  been  perused  by  many  here  with  great 
pleasure. 

I  have  never  written  to  England  since  the  opportunity  in  1776  by 
Mackaness  and  Shakspear.  By  yours  to  me,  as  mentioned  above,  I  find 
it  was  received,  and  am  happy  that  the  short  sketch  given  of  the  revival 
at  Providence,  and  of  the  country  round,  furnished  an  agreeable  enter 
tainment  for  my  English  brethren  and  friends.  But  days  of  tribulation 
have  succeeded  those  happy  ones.  The  calamities  of  the  war  fell  heavy 
upon  us.  First  a  dispersion  of  our  church  and  congregation  upon  the 
coining  of  the  King's  army,  which  is  in  sight  of  my  house.  This  was 
immediately  followed  by  the  evils  attendant  on  a  garrison,  as  we  became 
a  frontier.  The  dreadful  effects  of  this  upon  the  morals  of  the  inhabi 
tants  who  remained,  I  need  not  mention.  But  what  of  all  things  was 
the  most  distressing  to  me,  was  the  lukewarmness  of  almost  all  professors 
of  religion,  and  the  total  apostasy  of  many.  The  contagion  became  gen 
eral.  The  places  of  worship  were  almost  abandoned.  Alarm  upon 
alarm  destroyed  all  tranquillity,  and  every  day  and  night  threatened  us 
with  that  desolating  devastation  which  spread  with  such  rapidity  along 
our  coasts.  The  college  was  quite  broken  up,  and  the  edifice  was 
occupied  by  a  rude  and  wasting  soldiery,  first  for  barracks,  and  then  for 
a  hospital,  until  they  threatened  its  almost  total  demolition. 

But  language  would  fail  to  paint  in  proper  colors  the  horrors  of  these 
days.    About  this  time  one  John  Murray,  alias  Murphy,  supposed  to  be 
25* 


294  MANNING   AND  CHAP,  VII. 

a  fugitive  from  justice  in  Great  Britain,  with  great  address  undertook  to 
propagate  the  doctrine  of  universal  salvation,  as  held  by  a  Mr.  Relly,  in 
his  book  on  Union,  of  which  Murray  was  a  mere  retailer.  In  this  work 
he  was  too  successful  in  the  towns  and  counties  through  New  England. 
The  avidity  with  which  this  error  was  imbibed  greatly  contributed  to  the 
decline  of  the  morals  of  the  people,  and  to  unsettle  the  minds  of  profes 
sors.  Soon  after  this,  two  women,  who  pretended  to  a  participation  of 
Deity,  set  up  new  kinds  of  superstition.  One  of  them  pretended  to  be 
Jesus  Christ  in  the  form  of  a  woman.  In  her  preaching  and  praying  she 
considered  herself  as  the  Mediator.  The  other  pretended  to  pardon  sins, 
and  to  be  at  the  head  of  a  new  dispensation,  of  which  the  form  of  wor 
ship  is  dancing,  turning  round  on  one  foot,  pretending  to  speak  in  un 
known  tongues,  etc.,  etc.  She  interdicted  all  intercourse  between  the 
sexes,  so  that  separations  between  man  and  wife  became  common,  among 
those  who' would  attain  to  a  state  of  absolute  perfection.  The  fruits  of 
this  ex  parte  religion  you  will  easily  conjecture.  She,  with  her  attendants, 
came  to  America  from  Liverpool,  or  its  vicinity,  about  the  commence 
ment  of  the  war.  But  what  will  astonish  you  most  of  all  is  that  great 
multitudes  are  ensnared  by  these  delusions,  and  follow  their  pernicious 
ways. 

Yet  notwithstanding  these  discouraging  circumstances,  a  glorious  reform 
ation  has  progressed,  during  the  past  three  or  four  years,  in  many  parts 
of  New  England,  and  about  two  thousand  persons  have  in  consequence  re 
ceived  believer's  baptism,  and  several  Baptist  churches  have  been  consti 
tuted.  The  good  effects  of  this  work  are  yet  visible.  Several  places  have 
been  visited  during  the  past  year,  and  in  these  the  good  work  of  grace  still 
continues.  Dear  Mr.  Thurston,  of  Newport,  and  his  people,  have  had 
a  blessed  shower,  between  thirty  and  foity  of  their  number  having  lately 
been  baptized.  The  attendance  on  public  worship  with  us  at  Providence 
has  of  late  inspired  me  with  hopes  of  better  times. 

The  college  is  again  revived  ;  but  our  exhausted  state  will  enable  us  to 
make  only  a  partial  repair  of  the  edifice,  and  that  by  borrowing  money. 
"We  have  been  so  happy  as  to  preserve  our  little  fund  amidst  the  wreck  of 
public  credit,  but  the  present  exhausted  state  of  the  treasury  prevents 
our  commanding  the  interest  when  due.  The  return  of  peace  will,  we 
hope,  remedy  this  inconvenience  ere  it  be  of  long  continuance.  The  pros 
pect  of  students  grows  more  encouraging,  though  at  present  the  number 
is  small. 

I  write  this  from  New  Jersey,  whither  I  have  come  via  New  York,  for 


1780-1783. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  295 


the  first  time  in  seven  years.  Last  Lord's  Day  I  preached  here,  and  ex 
pect  to  preach  for  two  Sabbaths  to  come.  The  Baptist  meeting-house  is 
still  occupied  for  a  hospital,  and  greatly  out  of  repair.  The  people  seem 
much  disposed  to  hear  the  word,  although  attendance  at  church  has  long 
been  out  of  vogue  among  them.  Rev.  Messrs.  Miller  and  Stelle,  of  the 
Scotch  Plains  and  Piscataway  churches,  two  eminent  Baptist  ministers, 
died  nearly  two  years  ago.  Their  people  have  not  yet  found  Elishas  to 
take  their  places.  Political  contentions  have  proved  exceedingly  mis 
chievous  in  many  of  our  churches.  A  spirit  of  toleration,  however,  is 
vastly  more  prevalent  among  the  Pedobaptists  since  the  war.  To  this 
out  friend  Mr.  Backus,  who  is  well  and  still  active,  has  contributed  much. 
I  fear  I  shall  not  have  time  to  write  by  this  opportunity  to  any  of  my 
English  brethren  except  yourself.  Please  to  present  my  best  respects  to 
all  inquiring  friends ;  for  I  will  presume  that  I  have  some  who  will  inquire 
for  me.  Let  me  be  favored  with  a  letter  by  the  first  opportunity.  With 

sentiments  of  the  highest  respect, 

I  am,  etc., 

JAMES  MANNING. 

In  1783  the  public  exercises  of  Commencement  were  re 
sumed,  on  which  occasion  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stillman  preached 
an  animating  sermon  from  Luke  xv.  32  :  "  It  was  meet 
that  we  should  make  merry  and  be  glad  ;  for  this  thy 
brother  was  dead  and  is  alive  again,  and  was  lost  and  is 
found."  An  account  of  this  Commencement,  and  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  subsequent  meeting  of  the  corporation, 
may  best  be  learned  from  a  letter  to  Mr.  Howell.  It  will 
be  observed  that  Manning  again  alludes  to  his  purpose  to 
proceed  to  England  to  solicit  funds  for  the  college.  In 
reference  to  this  matter  we  make  the  following  extract 
from  the  records  of  a  meeting  of  the  corporation  held  on 
the  27th  of  January,  1783  :  - 

"President  Manning  laid  before  them  a  memorial  setting  forth  the 
smallness  of  the  college  funds,  and  the  necessity  of  augmenting  them  to 
preserve  the  institution  from  dissolution,  and  offered  his  services  to  travel 
abroad  to  solicit  donations  for  augmenting  them  as  per  memorial  on  file  ; 
which  being  duly  considered  by  the  members  present,  it  was  agreed  to 


296  MANNING   AND 


CHAP.  VII. 


recommend  to  the  President  to  proceed  to  solicit  donations,  as  soon  as  a 
proper  person  can  be  found  to  superintend  the  college  in  his  absence  ;  and 
that  the  secretary  make  out  for  him  proper  credentials,  sealed  with  the 
college  seal  and  signed  by  the  secretary." 

The  following  is  the  "  memorial,"  to  which  reference  is 
here  made :  — 

To  the  Honorable  the  Chancellor  and  the  Members  of  the  College  in 

Providence,  convened  by  special  request  on  Wednesday,  the  25th  of 

December,  1782  : 

GENTLEMEN  :  —  The  present  low  state  of  the  funds  of  the  college,  and 
the  consequent  embarrassment  of  this  corporation  in  conducting  and  ad 
vancing  the  institution,  are  matters  of  too  great  notoriety  to  need  eluci 
dation.  Any  plan,  therefore,  which  renders  an  augmentation  of  them 
probable,  I  presume  must  meet  your  warmest  approbation.  The  only 
one  which  I  can  conceive  can  at  present  be  adopted  is,  to  appoint  some 
person,  whom  you  shall  judge  qualified,  to  solicit  benefactions  of  whom 
and  wheresoever  he  shall  think  proper,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  endow 
ing  the  college  or  making  suitable  provision  for  tuition  therein, —  withal 
assuring  the  donors  that  the  corporation  have  pledged  their  faith  that 
the  interest  only  of  the  net  proceeds  of  the  money  so  collected  shall  be 
appropriated,  and  that  the  principal  shall  be  reserved  as  a  perpetual  fund. 

Looking  around  amongst  the  friends  of  the  college,  I  can  find  no  one  who 
will  undertake  this  arduous  service  unless  I  do  it  myself ;  and  though,  at  my 
time  of  life,  encumbered  as  I  am  with  the  cares  of  a  family,  the  congrega 
tion,  and  the  college,  together  with  the  mortifications  which  must  unavoida 
bly  attend  the  execution,  I  find  it  exceeding  difficult  to  enter  on  the  design ; 
yet  my  strong  attachment  to  the  interests  of  the  college  has  induced  me, 
for  the  want  of  a  more  suitable  person,  in  the  face  of  every  difficulty  to 
offer  my  services,  on  the  following  conditions :  That  the  corporation 
shall,  while  on  this  service,  discharge  me  from  all  duty  in  the  college  ; 
that  they  furnish  me  with  a  proper  authorization,  and,  out  of  the  mon 
eys  I  shall  collect,  pay  me  the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds  lawful  money 
per  annum,  besides  defraying  all  my  necessary  expenses ;  that  they 
allow  me  the  use  of  the  college  estate J  as  when  at  home,  and  leave  it  to 

1  The  house  occupied  by  President  Manning,  and  by  his  successors  Maxcy  and 
Messer,  and  for  a  while  by  Way  land,  was  built  at  the  time  of  the  erection  of 


1780-1783.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  297 

my  judgment  in  what  places  and  how  long  to  pursue  this  object.  And 
should  any  difficulty  arise  concerning  taking  the  moneys  out  of  the  gov 
ernments  where  collected,  it  shall  be  left  to  my  judgment  how  to  dispose 
of  them  to  the  best  advantage  of  the  corporation. 

Should  the  above  propositions  be  acceded  to,  as  soon  as  I  can  adjust 
my  private  concerns  I  engage,  by  divine  permission,  to  begin  and  faith 
fully  pursue  the  business  as  long  as  there  is,  in  my  opinion,  a  prospect  of 
success.  If  it  should  be  said  that  the  state  of  war  in  which  we  are  in 
volved,  the  desolations  of  many  parts  of  the  country,  the  weight  of  taxes, 
scarcity  of  money,  and  drought  of  the  last  summer,  all  militate  against 
this  proposal,  I  freely  grant  the  great  force  of  all  these  arguments  ;  but 
in  my  opinion  matters  are  come  to  a  point,  and  the  question  is  not 
whether  there  have  not  been  and  may  probably  hereafter  be  more  favor 
able  times  to  collect  money,  but  whether  the  college  can  be  continued  with 
any  degree  of  reputation  without  some  speedy  exertions.  I  confess  I 
think  it  cannot,  and  therefore  necessity  impels  this  measure.  Besides,  the 
Baptist  Associations,  held  the  last  fall  in  this  town  and  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  lent  a  favorable  ear  to  some  proposals  for  augmenting  the 
college  revenue ;  but  withal  concluded  that  the  only  method  to  succeed 
would  be  for  me  to  follow  them  by  a  personal  application.  And  I  con 
ceive  the  only  time  to  obtain  their  money  is  when  the  people  are  willing 
to  part  with  it,  whatever  difficulty  they  may  find  in  obtaining  it.  These 
proposals,  however,  are  cheerfully  submitted  to  your  better  judgment,  by, 
gentlemen, 

Your  humble  servant, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

This  plan  of  President  Manning,  which  was  never  car 
ried  into  effect,  owing  doubtless  to  the  difficulty  in  finding 
a  suitable  person  to  take  his  place  in  the  college  and  in 
the  church,  is  another  of  the  many  proofs  of  his  ardent 
desire  to  promote  the  interests  of  "  religion  and  sound 
learning,"  and  of  his  willingness  to  make  sacrifices  in  be 
half  of  the  institution  over  which  he  presided.  But  to  the 
letter : — 

University  Hall.    It  stood  where  now  is  the  old  college  pump,  directly  in  front 
of  Harming  Hall. 


298  MANNING  AND  CHAP.  VII. 

PROVIDENCE,  Sept.  13,  1783. 
To  THE  HONORABLE  DAVID  HOWELL, 

DELEGATE  IN  CONGRESS  : 

DEAR  SIR  :  —  Last  night  brought  me  your  favor  of  the  17th  ult. ;  by 
some  means  it  has  had  a  long  passage.  Am  much  obliged  for  the  intelli 
gence  you  communicate.  I  with  you  hope  our  happy  Constitution  may  be 
preserved  entire,  and  that  place-men  and  pensioners  may  figure  small  under 
it,  whatever  raised  hopes  may  have  been  entertained  by  candidates.  I  wish 
to  know  the  event  of  the  examination  you  mentioned,  which  was  so  full 
of  expectation  on  the  part  of  the  examined.  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  you 
are  so  happy  in  your  colleague.  I  shall  not  be  wanting  in  seconding  your 
wishes  with  respect  to  your  son.  He  does  not  make  a  rapid  progress  in 
language,  but  does  much  better  than  heretofore.  He  performed  very  well 
the  last  public  speaking. 

Our  public  Commencement  met  the  highest  approbation  of  a  most  nu 
merous  assembly,  amongst  whom  were  the  high  Consul  of  France,  the 
Count  dal  Verme  of  Milan,  and  several  English  and  Dutch  merchants, 
who  were  very  liberal  in  their  encomiums  on  the  performers  and  perform 
ances.  It  is  generally  thought,  both  by  the  friends  of  the  cdllcge  and 
others,  to  equal  if  not  exceed  any  we  have  ever  had.  And  I  am  happy 
to  inform  you  that  it  seems  to  have  inspired  its  friends  with  new  life.  Mr. 
John  Brown  requested  the  corporation  to  ascertain  the  sum  necessary  to 
procure  a  complete  philosophical  apparatus  and  libmry,  and  offered  to 
advance,  forthwith,  one  half  the  sum,  provided  the  corporation  would 
advance,  or  find  ways  and  means  to  advance,  the  other  half.  It  was  found 
impracticable  to  ascertain  this  exactly.  He  then  offered  to  equal  any  sum 
they  could  raise.  A  subscription  was  immediately  set  on  foot,  and  pur 
sued  by  Mr.  Smith  in  the  town  the  succeeding  days,  which  amounted  to 
better  than  £340  ;  and  will,  with  Mr.  John  Brown's,  equal,  if  not  exceed, 
£700  lawful  money.  A  catalogue  of  the  library  and  apparatus  is  ordered 
to  be  made  out  immediately.  If  you  can  assist  us,  by  procuring  from 
your  friends  any  large  catalogues  of  books,  or  can  yourself  furnish  one 
both  of  the  library  and  apparatus,  we  shall  be  happy  to  receive  your  as 
sistance,  as  soon  as  possible.  Governor  Hopkins,  Joseph  Brown,  Doc 
tors  Waterhouse  and  Drowne,  Mr.  Stillman  and  myself  are  appointed  to 
this  service ;  and  we  mean  to  have  them  prepared  as  soon  as  practicable. 
Messrs.  Stillman  and  Waterhouse,  with  the  President,  are  appointed  to 
draft  an  address  and  petition  to  the  King  of  France  for  his  patronage  of 
the  college,  and  a  donation  similar  to  that  offered  to  Yale  College,  and 


1780-1783. 


BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  299 


forward  it  to  you  to  use  your  influence  with  the  Minister  of  France  to  get 
his  sanction  of  it,  and  to  point  out  the  proper  way  of  access  to  his  most 
Christian  Majesty,  as  soon  as  may  be.  And  while  it  is  preparing  I  am  to 
request  you  to  feel  the  pulse  of  the  Minister  relative  to  it,  and  advise  us 
accordingly.  -This  matter  is  ordered  to  be  kept  a  secret,  and  by  the  cor 
poration,  lest  we  should  be  interrupted.  President  Wheelock,  on  this 
business  for  Dartmouth  College,  writes  that  he  is  likely  to  succeed  equal 
to  his  expectations.  It  was  also  voted  that  Mr.  William  Van  Horn  should 
solicit  benefactions  to  the  southward  of  Pennsylvania,  the  President  in  the 
Middle  States,  Kev.  Benjamin  Foster  through  New  England,  and  Rev. 
William  Rogers  go  on  the  business  to  Europe.  Mr.  Foster  I  have  since 
seen.  Ho  informs  mo  that  he  cannot  accept  his  appointment.  Mr.  Rog 
ers  has  also  intimated  as  much  to  me,  in  consequence  of  the  ill  state  of 
his  wife's  health,  and  I  am  again  in  the  question  for  this  service.  The 
great  objection  to  this  is,  to  have  the  college  provided  for  in  the  interim. 
All  agree,  if  you  should  return  at  the  beginning  of  winter,  and  will  un 
dertake,  that  the  objection  will  be  removed  ;  and  I  wish  a  line  from  you 
on  this  subject  as  soon  as  possible,  as  it  is  thought  necessary  to  proceed 
to  Europe  this  fall..  In  short,  we  arc.detcrmined  to  make  every  possible  ex 
ertion  to  make  the  college  respectable  if  possible.  Dr.  Drowne  is  chosen 
Fellow  in  the  room  of  Dr.  Babcock  ;  Dr.  Watcrhouse1  has  qualified  also; 
Welcome  Arnold  is  chosen  in  the  room  of  Governor  Cook. 

1  Dr.  Benjamin  Waterhousc  was  chosen  a  Fellow  of  the  college  in  1782.  This 
gentleman,  says  Prof.  Goddard,  whose  brief  sketch  of  him  we  in  the  main  quote, 
distinguished  in  the  medical  history  of  our  country  as  "  the  American  Jenner," 
was  born  in  Newport,  11.  I.  His  father,  originally  a  Presbyterian,  embraced  the 
religious  opinions  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  after  he  had  reached  mature  life; 
and  to  those  opinions  he  remained  sincerely  attached  till  his  death,  at  an  ad 
vanced  age.  His  sou,  to  borrow  his  own  language,  "  was  born  and  educated 
in  the  principles  of  liberal  Quakerism."  He  never,  however,  adopted  the  pecu 
liarities  of  that  quiet  and  useful  sect,  nor  was  he  accustomed  to  unite  with  them 
in  their  religious  worship.  Dr.  Waterhouse  never  received  a  college  education ; 
but  few  of  our  countrymen  have  been  more  frequently  honored  by  distinctions 
from  literary  and  scientific  bodies,  at  home  and  abroad.  That  his  early  academ 
ical  training  was  not  neglected,  is  evident  from  his  various  publications,  some  of 
which  evince  a  familiarity  with  the  learned  languages.  He  was  a  pupil  of  the 
celebrated  Dr.  Fothergill,  of  London,  and  he  subsequently  pursued  his  medical 
studies  at  the  famous  schools  of  Edinburgh  and  Leyden.  From  the  Leyden 
school  he  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  in  Medicine.  In  1783  he  was  appointed 
Professor  of  the  Theory  and  Practice  of  Medicine  in  Harvard  University,  and  he 
continued  to  perform  the  duties  of  that  chair  for  the  period  of  nearly  thirty 


300  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VII. 

Last  Tuesday  I  attended  the  Association  at  Charlton.  The  convention 
was  large  and  unanimous.  I  discover  a  growing  attachment  to  litera 
ture,  though  by  reason  of  the  drought  last  year,  etc.,  they  had  not  com 
plied  with  the  request  to  raise  money  for  the  college,  except  Mr.  Gair, 
who  produced  £13.  Several  more  had  begun,  and  the  recommendation, 
is  still  continued,  with  some  additional  stimulus.  The  plenteous  crop  of 
the  present  year,  I  hope,  will  enable  the  well  disposed  to  lend  us  some 
assistance. 

We  have  chosen  the  device  for  a  seal,  which  Dr.  Drowne  exhibited,  with 
the  alteration  of  an  enclosed  instead  of  an  open  temple.  Probably  we 
shall  employ  you  to  get  it  engraved  at  Philadelphia,  if  you  will  take  the 
trouble,  as  we  expect  it  will  be  your  winter  residence.  The  subscription 
I  mentioned  was  in  books,  apparatus,  and  money. 

Mrs.  Anthony  is  here,  who,  with  Mrs.  Manning,  was  at  your  house  yes 
terday.  They  inform  me  your  father  is  there,  in  a  low  state  of  health. 
Your  mamma  Corn's  also  continues  to  decline.  Mrs.  Manning  presents 
her  most  respectful  compliments  to  the  honorable  delegate,  and  Mrs. 
Anthony  requests  me  to  do  the  same  to  the  old  gentleman.  She  returned 
here  from  Boston  last  Monday.  I  had  quite  forgot  to.  tell  you  we  did  not 
take  up  the  consideration  of  our  address  to  Congress  for  damages,  etc., 
done  the  college.  We  wish  you  to  feel  the  pulse  of  your  acquaintance 
relative  thereto  ;  and  if  there  should  be  an  opening,  to  give  us  the  earliest 
advice,  that  we  may  improve  the  opportunity  to  apply.  With  sentiments 
of  esteem,  I  am,  sir, 

Your  very  humble  servant, 

JAMES  MAXXIXG. 

In  reference  to  the  Count  dal  Verrae,  to  whom  allusion 
is  here  made,  we  find  the  following  anecdote  from  the  Hon. 
Asher  Robbins,  quoted  by  Prof.  Goddard,  as  an  illustration 
of  the  dignity  and  grace  with  which  Dr.  Manning  was 

years.  This  was  among  the  earliest  medical  schools  established  in  America.  In 
1784  Dr.  Waterhouse  was  elected  Professor  of  Natural  History  in  Rhode  Island 
College,  and  while  occupying  this  chair  be  delivered,  in  the  State  House  in 
Providence,  the  first  course  of  lectures  upon  that  science  ever  delivered  in  the 
United  States.  The  benevolent  and  intrepid  agency  of  Dr.  Waterhouse  in  intro 
ducing  vaccination  into  this  country,  is  too  well  known  to  the  public  to  need 
more  than  a  passing  allusion.  He  died  at  an  advanced  age,  in  the  year  1846. 


1780-1783. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  301 


accustomed  to  preside  at  the  annual  Commencements.  "  I 
recollect,"  he  says,  "  that  at  one  of  our  Commencements,  a 
French  gentleman  of  distinction  (I  think  he  bore  some 
title  of  nobility)  was  present.  He  sat  by  Dr.  Waterhouse, 
and  was,  I  think,  introduced  and  presented  by  him.  They 
conversed  together  in  Latin,  either  as,  being  learned  men, 
they  chose  to  converse  in  a  learned  language,  or  as  the 
Frenchman  being  less  perfect  in  English  and  the  Doctor 
in  French,  they  found  it  more  easy  to  converse  in  Latin. 
Struck  with  the  natural  dignity  and  grace,  the  Frenchman 
whispered  to  the  Doctor, '  Natalia  prcesidere '  (born  to  pre 
side).  I  heard  this  from  Dr.  Waterhouse  himself  the  next 
day." 

In  looking  over  the  records,  we  find  that  at  a  special 
meeting  of  the  corporation,  held  on  the  7th  of  January, 
1784,  the  address  to  which  Manning  in  his  letter  to  How- 
ell  refers,  "  drawn  up  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Stillman  and  Dr. 
Benjamin  Waterhouse,  was  read  and  approved." 

It  was  also  at  this  meeting  voted,  "  That  the  Chancel 
lor,  the  President,  Hon.  Jabez  Bowen,  and  Dr.  Solomon 
Drowne,  be  a  committee  to  draft  a  letter  to  Dr.  Benjamin 
Franklin,  to  accompany  the  address  to  his  most  Christian 
Majesty." 

The  following  is  the  address,  which  we  copy  from  an 
original  document  now  on  file  among  the  archives  of  the 
University.  The  penmanship  of  the  document,  it  may  be 
added,  is  remarkably  clear  and  handsome,  and  the  signa 
tures  to  it  are  genuine.  Some  slight  verbal  alterations 
rendered  it  necessary  to  prepare  another,  and  hence  this  is 
retained.  A  first  draft,  also,  in  the  handwriting  apparently 
of  Dr.  Stillman,  is  on  file. 

SIRE  :  —  The  Rhode  Island  College,  studious  of  promoting  literature, 
and  of  disseminating  that  kind  of  knowledge  which  tendeth  to  impress 
26 


MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VII. 

the  minds  of  youth  under  their  direction  with  such  sentiments  of  benevo 
lence  as  are  circumscribed  in  no  less  bounds  than  the  whole  bulk  of  man 
kind,  look  up  to  your  Majesty,  not  only  as  a  friend  and  promoter  of  such 
knowledge,  but  also,  like  many  of  your  illustrious  ancestors,  a  patron  of 
those  arts  which  polish  humanity  and  exalt  our  natures. 

With  these  sentiments  we  regard  the  monarch  of  France,  and  with  all 
deference  beg  leave  to  express  our  wishes  of  having  a  professor  of  the 
French  language  and  history  in  this  our  infant  seminary,  —  a  thing  we 
ardently  desire,  but  are  unable  to  accomplish. 

Ignorant  of  the  French  language,  and  separated  as  we  were  by  more 
than  mere  distance  of  countries,  we  too  readily  imbibed  the  prejudices  of 
the  English,  — prejudices  which  we  have  renounced  since  we  have  had  a 
nearer  view  of  the  brave  army  of  France,  who  actually  inhabited  this  col 
lege  edifice ;  since  which  time  our  youth  seek  with  avidity  whatever  can 
give  them  information  respecting  the  character,  genius,  and  influence 
of  a  people  they  have  such  reason  to  admire,  —  a  nation  so  eminently 
distinguished  for  polished  humanity. 

To  satisfy  this  laudable  thirst  of  knowledge,  nothing  was  wanting  but 
to  encourage  and  diffuse  the  French  language ;  and  that  not  merely  as  the 
principal  means  of  rendering  an  intercourse  with  our  brethren  of  France 
more  easy  and  beneficial,  but  also  for  spreading  far  and  wide  the  history 
of  the  so  celebrated  race  of  kings,  statesmen,  philosophers,  poets,  and 
benefactors  of  mankind  which  France  has  produced. 

As  no  king  will  be  held  by  us  in  so  lasting  and  so  dear  a  remembrance, 
so  there  is  no  name  we  are  more  desirous  of  repeating  as  the  founder  of 
the  French  language  and  history  in  this  country  than  your  Majesty's,  and 
that  too  as  much  from  gratitude  to  your  Majesty  as  profit  to  ourselves. 

From  the  scarcity  of  French  books,  our  youth  can  at  present  only  draw 
their  information  from  English  writers,  and  not  from  the  more  pure 
source,  the  French  themselves.  Our  wish  has  therefore  been  to  procure 
a  proper  collection  of  the  best  French  authors,  and  to  establish  a  profes 
sorship  of  the  French  language  and  history  in  the  College  of  Rhode  Island 
and  Providence  Plantations  ;  but  such  have  been  the  obstructions  to  learn 
ing  during  the  war,  and  the  course  of  education  so  impeded,  that  the 
edifice  erected  for  the  reception  of  the  studious  youth  was  granted  by  the 
governors  of  the  college  as  a  hospital  for  the  troops.  These,  together 
with  the  calamities  of  the  country,  render  it  impossible  for  us  to  carry  our 
design  into  execution  respecting  French  literature. 

Regarding,  therefore,  your  Majesty  as  a  monarch  endowed  with  quali- 


1780-1783.  BROWN  UNIVERSITY. 


303 


tics  that  add  lustre  to  a  crown,  ever  ready  to  patronize  what  is  good  and 
useful,  we  presume  to  solicit  your  Majesty's  assistance ;  firmly  believing 
that  whatever  tends  to  make  men  wiser,  better,  and  happier  will  meet 
with  your  royal  assistance  and  encouragement. 

May  the  common  Father  of  the  universe  bless  our  endeavors,  and  make 
your  Majesty  the  happy  instrument  of  raising  to  us  the  literary  genius  of 
France  in  ages  past  as  from  the  dead.  May  sacred  and  unerring  wisdom 
ever  be  your  guide,  adorn  you  with  every  virtue,  and  crown  you  with 
every  blessing,  that  future  ages  may  commemorate  the  happiness  of  your 
reign  with  grateful  admiration. 

Signed  by  order  and  in  behalf  of  the  corporation, 

STEPHEN  HOPKINS,  Chancellor. 
JAMES  MANNING,  President. 
PROVIDENCE,  STATE  OP  RHODE  ISLAND,  Jan.  9,  1784. 

This  address  was  eventually  put  into  the  hands  of 
Thomas  Jefferson  by  the  Rhode  Island  Delegates  to  Con 
gress,  the  matter  having  been  intrusted  to  them.  We 
may  be  allowed  to  anticipate  somewhat,  and  give  the  re 
sult  of  the  application,  by  publishing  the  following  letter, 
which  we  find  in  the  second  volume  of  Jefferson's  Works. 

PARIS,  July  22,  1787. 
To  THE  DELEGATES  OF  RHODE  ISLAND  : 

GENTLEMEN  :  —  I  was  honored  in  the  month  of  January  last  with  a 
letter  from  the  honorable  the  delegates  of  Rhode  Island  in  Congress,  en 
closing  a  letter  from  the  corporation  of  Rhode  Island  College  to  his  most 
Christian  Majesty,  and  some  other  papers.  I  was  then  in  the  hurry  of 
preparation  for  a  journey  into  the  south  of  France,  and  therefore  unable 
at  that  moment  to  make  the  inquiries  which  the  object  of  the  letter  ren 
dered  necessary.  As  soon  as  I  returned,  which  was  in  the  last  month,  I 
turned  my  attention  to  that  object,  which  was  the  establishment  of  a  pro 
fessorship  of  the  French  language  in  the  college,  and  the  obtaining  a  col 
lection  of  the  best  French  authors,  with  the  aid  of  the  King.  That  neither 
the  college  nor  myself  might  be  compromitted  uselessly,  I  thought  it  neces 
sary  to  sound,  previously,  those  who  were  able  to  inform  me  what  would 
be  the  success  of  the  application.  I  was  assured,  so  as  to  leave  no  doubt, 
that  it  would  not  be  complied  with  ;  that  there  had  never  been  an  instance 


304 


MANNING  AND  CHAP.  VII. 


of  the  King's  granting  such  a  demand  in  a  foreign  country,  and  that  they 
would  be  cautious  of  setting  the  precedent ;  that,  in  this  moment,  too, 
they  were  embarrassed  with  the  difficult  operation  of  putting  down  all  es 
tablishments  of  their  own  which  could  possibly  be  dispensed  with,  in  order 
to  bring  their  expenditures  down  to  the  level  of  their  receipts.  Upon  such 
information  I  was  satisfied  that  it  was  most  prudent  not  to  deliver  the 
letter,  and  spare  to  both  parties  the  disagreeableness  of  giving  and  re 
ceiving  a  denial.  The  King  did  give  to  two  colleges  in  America  copies 
of  the  works  printing  in  the  public  press.  But  were  this  to  be  obtained 
for  the  College  of  Khode  Island,  it  would  extend  only  to  a  volume  or  two 
of  Buffon's  work  still  to  be  printed,  Manilius's  Astronomicon,  and  one 
or  two  other  works  in  the  press  which  are  of  no  consequence.  I  did  not 
think  this  an  object  for  the  college  worth  being  pressed.  I  bog  the  favor 
of  you,  gentlemen,  to  assure  the  corporation  that  no  endeavors  of  mine 
should  have  been  spared  could  they  have  effected  their  wish,  and  that 
they  have  been  faithfully  used  in  making  the  preliminary  inquiries  which 
are  necessary,  and  which  ended  in  an  assurance  that  nothing  could  be 
done.  These  papers  having  been  transmitted  to  me  through  your  dele 
gation,  will,  I  hope,  be  an  apology  for  my  availing  myself  of  the  same 
channel  for  communicating  the  result. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  sentiments  of  the  most  perfect  esteem  and 
respect,  gentlemen, 

Your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 

The  most  important  business  transacted  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  corporation  in  1783,  was  the  confirming 
and  ratifying  of  a  new  digest  of  the  college  laws,  which 
had  been  carefully  made  by  President  Manning.  A  few 
extracts  from  this  digest  may  serve  to  illustrate  the  char 
acter  and  liberal  tendencies  of  the  college,  as  also  the 
spirit  of  the  times  :  — 

1 .  No  student  shall  be  admitted  into  this  college  until  he  shall  have 
written  out  a  correct  copy  of  the  laws  of  the  college,  or  have  otherwise 
obtained  them,  and  had  them  signed  by  the  President  and  one  or  more 
of  the  tutors,  as  the  evidence  of  his  admission  ;  which  copy  he  shall  keep 
by  him  during  his  residence  in  college. 


1780-1783.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


305 


2.  Both  before  and  after  noon,  and  before  nine  o'cloek  in  the  evening, 
the  tutors  in  their  turn  shall  duly  visit  the  rooms   of   the  students  to 
observe  whether  they  be  within  and   pursuing  their  studies  ;  and  shall 
punish  all  those  who  are  absent  without  liberty  or  necessity. 

3.  The  President  and  tutors,  according  to  their  judgments,  shall  teach 
and  instruct  the  several  classes  in  the  learned  languages,  and  in  the  lib 
eral  arts  and  sciences,  together  with  the  vernacular  tongue. 

The  following  are  the  classes  appointed  for  the  first  year,  namely  :  In 
Latin,  Virgil,  Cicero's  Orations,  and  Horace,  all  in  usurn  Dclphini.  In 
Greek,  the  New  Testament,  Lucian's  Dialogues,  and  Xenophon's  Cyro- 
peedia.  For  the  second  year,  in  Latin,  Cicero  dc  Oratorc,  and  Caesar's 
Commentaries  ;  in  Greek,  Homer's  Iliad,  and  Longinus  on  the  Sublime, 
together  with  Lowth's  Vernacular  Grammar,  Rhetoric,  Ward's  Oratory, 
Sheridan's  Lectures  on  Elocution,  Guthrie's  Geography,  Kaimes's  El 
ements  of  Criticism,  Watts  and  Duncan's  Logic.  For  the  third  year, 
Hutchinson's  Moral  Philosophy,  Doddridge's  Lectures,  Fenning's  Arith 
metic,  Hammond's  Algebra,  Stone's  Euclid,  Martin's  Trigonometry, 
Love's  Surveying,  Wilson's  Navigation,  Martin's  Philosophia  Britannica, 
and  Ferguson's  Astronomy,  with  Martin  on  the  Globes.  In  the  last  year, 
Locke  on  the  Understanding,  Kennedy's  Chronology,  and  Bolingbroke 
on  History;  and  the  Languages,  Arts,  and  Sciences  studied  in  the  fore 
going  years  to  be  accurately  reviewed. 

4.  Two  of  the  students,  in  rotation,  shall,  every  evening,  after  prayers, 
pronounce  a  piece  upon  the  stage  ;  and  all  the  members  of  the  college 
shall  meet  every  Wednesday  afternoon  in  the  hall,  at  the  ringing  of  the 
bell  at  two  o'clock,  to  pronounce  before  the  President  and  tutors  pieces 
well  committed  to  memory,  that  they  may  receive  such  corrections  in 
their  manner  as  shall  be  judged  necessary.1 

i  In  reference  to  this  custom,  which  was  continued  down  to  a  very  late  period, 
with  some  modifications,  the  Hon.  Tristam  Burges,  in  his  Address  before  the 
Federal  Adelphi,  thus  speaks:  "  You  all  remember  the  elevated  advanced  stage 
where  the  speaker  took  his  stand,  when,  under  the  supervision  of  the  whole  au 
thority,  surrounded  by  the  entire  collegiate  assembly,  awed  by  the  continued  and 
pervading  spirit  of  the  hour  and  the  occasion,  he  gave  utterance  to  his  own,  so 
soon  as  the  last  echo  of  the  voice  of  devotion  had  ceased  to  whisper  in  the  ear  of 
the  listening  audience.  It  was  not  to  all  the  assembled  Greeks,  it  was  not  at  the 
Olympic  Games  that  he  spoke;  but  the  pupil  who  passed  through  this  ordeal 
under  the  eye  of  Manning  or  Maxcy,  has  never  since  that  time,  with  more  anx 
iety  prepared  himself  for  any  other,  or  gone  through  it  with  more  fear  and 
trembling." 

26* 


306  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  TIL 

5.  It  is  not  permitted  any  one,  in  the  hours  of  study,  to  speak  to 
another,  except  in  Latin,  either  in  the  college  or  college  yard. 

6.  The  Senior  Class,  when  required,  shall  read  a  chapter  out  of  the 
Greek  Testament  into  English,  before  morning  prayers  ;  the  President  or 
tutors  calling  on  whom  they  think  proper  of  the  class  to  perform  this 
duty. 

7.  Every  student  shall  attend  public  worship  every  first  day  of  the  week, 
where  he,  his  parents,  or  his  guardians  shall  think  proper,  provided  that 
any  who  do  not  attend  with  any  officer  of  instruction  produce  vouchers, 
when  demanded,  of  his  steady  and  orderly  attendance. 

N.  B.  —  Such  as  regularly  and  statedly  observe  the  seventh  day  as  a 
Sabbath,  are  exempted  from  this  law,  and  are  only  required  to  abstain 
from  secular  employments,  which  would  interrupt  their  fellow-students. 

8.  Agreeably  to  the  charter  of  this  college,  which  enacts  that  Chris 
tians  of  every  denomination  shall,  without  the  least  molestation  in  the 
peculiarities  of  their  religious   principles,  enjoy  free  liberty,  etc.,  it   is 
ordered,  that  if  any  student  of  this  college  shall  deny  the  being  of  a  God, 
the  existence  of  virtue  and  vice,  or  that  the  books  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments  are   of  divine   authority,   or   suggest   any   scruples   of  this 
nature,  or  circulate  books  of  such  pernicious  tendency,  or  frequent  the 
company  of  those  who  are  known  to  favor  such  fatal  errors,  or  harass 
and  disquiet  the  minds  of  his  fellow-students  respecting  any  of  the  pecu 
liarities  of  their  Christian  faith,  by  ridicule,  sneers,  scoffing,  infidel  sug 
gestions,  or  in  any  other  way,  and  shall  continue  obstinate  therein  after 
the  first  and  second  admonition,  he  shall  be  expelled  from  the  college. 

Young  gentlemen  of  the  Hebrew  nation  are  to  be  exempt  from  this  law, 
so  far  as  it  relates  to  the  New  Testament  and  its  authenticity. 

9.  No  student,  except  those  who  statedly  attend  the  Friends'  meeting, 
is  permitted  to  wear  his  hat  within  the  college  Avails  ;  nor  when  speaking 
to,  or  spoken  to  by,  or  is  in  company  with  an  officer  of  instruction,  unless 
he  be  permitted  by  them  to  put  it  on. 

10.  The  times  of  vacation  shall  be  from  September  6  to  October  20, 
from  December  24  to  January  24,  and  from  the  first  Monday  in  May 
three  weeks. 

1 1 .  And  whereas  the  statutes  are  few  and  general,  there  must  necessarily 
be  lodged  with  the  President  and  tutors  a  discretional  or  parental  author 
ity  ;  therefore,  where  no  statute  is  particulary  and  expressly  provided  for 
a  case  that  may  occur,  they  are  to  exercise  this  discretionary  authority 
according  to  the  known  customs  of  similar  institutions,  and  the  plain  gen- 


1780-1783. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  307 


cral  rules  of  the  moral  law.  And  in  general  the  penalties  are  to  be  of  the 
more  humane  kind,  such  as  are  at  once  expressive  of  compassion  for  the 
offender  and  of  indignation  at  the  offence,  such  as  are  adapted  to  work 
upon  the  nobler  principles  of  humanity,  and  to  move  the  more  honorable 
springs  of  good  order  and  submission  to  government. 

As  a  distinguished  writer  well  remarks,  the  character 
of  institutions,  and  alike  of  nations,  is  best  known  from 
their  laws.  We  should  be  glad,  therefore,  did  space  allow, 
to  present  further  extracts  from  this  interesting  digest.  In 
the  last  paragraph,  as  above  quoted,  President  Manning 
may  be  supposed  to  have  embodied  his  ideas  in  respect 
to  college  government  and  discipline,  which,  says  his  pu 
pil  and  successor,  Dr.  Maxcy,  "  was  mild  and  peaceful ; 
conducted  by  that  persuasive  authority,  which  secures 
obedience  while  it  conciliates  esteem." 

The  old  stock,  so  to  speak,  of  students,  having  now  be 
come  exhausted,  there  were  no  more  public  Commence 
ments  until  the  year  1786,  at  which  time  the  Freshman 
Class  of  1782  were  prepared  to  graduate.  The  progress 
of  events  during  this  period  can  best  be  learned  from  Man 
ning's  correspondence,  which  we  present  in  chronological 
order.  From  the  following  letter  to  Mr.  Kane,  it  appears 
that  his  friend  and  former  correspondent,  the  Rev.  Benja 
min  Wallin,  had  made  a  bequest  to  the  college.  How  large 
this  bequest  was  we  cannot  readily  determine,  as  no  men 
tion  of  it  is  to  be  found  in  the  records  of  the  corporation. 

TO   ME.   HENEY   KANE,   WALWOETH,   NEAE   LONDON. 

PROVIDENCE,  Nov.  8,  1783. 

SIR  :  —  I  sympathize  with  you  in  the  loss  of  your  late  venerable  and 
pious  pastor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wallin.  I  hope  the  church  may  find  some 
Elisha  to  take  his  mantle,  who,  under  the  great  Head  of  the  church,  may 
build  you  up.  I  am  pleased  to  find  that  in  his  last  will  and  testament  he 


308  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VII. 

remembered  the  college.  Mr.  Mullett  showed  me  the  letter  from  you 
to  him  on  the  subject  of  discharging  or  receipting  the  papers.  Mr. 
John  Brown,  our  treasurer,  who  is  empowered  by  the  Trustees  and  Fel 
lows  to  conduct  all  the  money-matters  of  the  corporation,  has  settled  with 
Mr.  Mullett,  as  you  will  see  by  his  receipt,  attested  by  the  Chancellor 
and  President.  You  may  rely  upon  receiving  his  receipt  at  an  early  day. 
The  college  has  been  dispersed  during  the  war,  but  is  again  lifting  up 
its  head.  The  damages  it  has  sustained,  and  the  low  state  of  its  funds, 
call  aloud  for  the  assistance  of  its  friends  who  are  able  to  establish  it. 
It  has  not  yet  received  a  name,  for  want  of  some  distinguished  benefactor. 
Such  a  person  we  should  be  glad  to  find  amongst  our  friends  in  England 
unto  whom  God  in  his  providence  has  given  wealth  and  influence.  We 
arc  making  an  effort  to  do  something  here  in  America,  but  the  burdens  of 
the  war  leave  us  but  a  gloomy  prospect.  The  corporation  have  subscribed 
near  seven  hundred  pounds  lawful  money,  six  shillings  to  a  dollar,  towards 
augmenting  our  little  library  and  furnishing  an  apparatus,  besides  advanc 
ing  near  one  half  of  this  sum  out  of  their  own  pockets  for  the  repairs  of 
the  edifice.  Every  testimony  of  regard  for  it  will  be  most  thankfully  re 
ceived  and  acknowledged  by  the  corporation,  and  especially  by  him  who 
has  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

TO   THE   EEV.   JOHN   EYLAND. 

PROVIDENCE,  Nov.  8,  1783. 
MY  DEAR  FRIEND  : 

It  is  long  since  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  a  line  from  you, 
but  I  congratulate  you  on  the  return  of  peace  and  the  opening  again  of  a 
communication  between  England  and  America.  I  shall  not  at  present 
trouble  you  with  my  reasoning  on  this  surprising  revolution,  but  shall 
only  say  that  I  am  convinced  that  it  is  of  God.  To  recount  the  distress 
ing  trials  through  which  we  have  passed  during  the  war,  would  but  open 
again  the  wounds  and  cause  them  to  bleed  afresh.  I  suppose  Mr.  Ryland 
has  no  less  affection  for  his  American  brethren  than  hithcrtofore,  and 
therefore  take  the  liberty  of  addressing  a  line  to  him  with  the  same  free 
dom  as  before. 

The  state  of  religion  throughout  America  has  been  on  the  decline  for 
several  vears,  and  the  most  destructive  errors  have  prevailed,  excepting 


1780-1783.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  309 

a  revival  three  or  four  years  since  in  New  England,  and  some  favorable 
appearances  of  late.  I  should  have  exceptcd,  however,  the  frontier  parts 
of  the  country,  for  the  wilderness  has  blossomed  like  the  rose,  and  the 
Baptist  principles  have  greatly  prevailed  there.  The  college  was  broken 
up  for  nearly  six  years,  and  the  edifice  devoted  to  the  uses  of  the  army. 
It  is  again  revived,  and  twelve  students  now  belong  to  it.  More  are  ex 
pected.  The  edifice  received  great  damage,  but  has  been  partially  re 
paired,  at  the  private  expense  of  the  corporation,  who  have  also  subscribed 
near  £700  lawful  money  to  augment  our  little  library  and  procure  an 
apparatus.  The  catalogues  are  making  out,  and  when  ready  will  be  for 
warded  to  England  to  give  our  friends,  with  you,  an  opportunity  of  testi 
fying  afresh  their  attachment.  We  are  making  application  also  through 
this  continent  to  get  what  endowments  we  can  for  the  college,  but  our 
exhausted  state  promises  little  favorable.  The  college  has  the  reputation 
of  contributing  not  a  little  to  the  interests  of  religion,  not  to  say  civil  lib 
erty.  This  has  interested  the  Baptist  society  in  general  to  look  with  a 
more  favorable  eye  upon  literature.  But  the  burden  of  taxes,  with  their 
losses  through  the  war,  furnish  them  with  arguments  to  withhold  their 
pecuniary  assistance  which  the  most  able  logicians  cannot  confute.  Can 
you  find  no  gentleman  of  fortune  among  you  who  wishes  to  rear  a  lasting 
monument  to  his  honor  in  America  ?  If  you  can,  direct  his  attention  to 
the  Hill  of  Providence,  in  the  State  of  Rhode  Island,  whereon  an  elegant 
edifice  is  already  erected,  which  waits  for  a  name  from  some  distinguished 
benefactor.  The  corporation  are  determined  to  do  this  honor  to  its  great 
est  benefactor.  Should  some  English  gentleman  deign  to  become  such, 
it  may  serve  to  cement  that  union  which  I  wish  ever  to  see  cultivated  be 
tween  the  two  countries,  notwithstanding  our  independence.  I  promise 
myself  your  interest  in  finding  such  an  one,  if  in  your  power.  I  must 
refer  you  to  a  letter  to  Dr.  Stcnnett  of  this  date  for  a  more  particular 
account  of  the  state  of  affairs  amongst  us,  as  I  have  not  time  now  to  be 
particular.  I  should  be  happy  to  receive  one  of  your  old-fashioned  long 
letters  by  the  return  of  this  vessel  or  the  first  which  may  come.  It  is  prob 
able  there  will  be  opportunity  of  transmitting  letters  as  usual  twice  a  year, 
as  the  trade  from  Providence  is  again  opened  directly  to  London.  I 
should  have  written  in  the  spring,  but  was  absent  when  the  vessel  sailed. 
Our  dear  friend  Mr.  Wallin  is  released  from  the  field  of  labor,  as  I  learn 
by  my  letter  from  Dr.  Stcnnett,  who  has  done  me  the  honor  to  begin  a 
correspondence,  and  requested  me  to  continue  it.  With  this  request  I 
shall  with  pleasure  comply.  Please  to  present  my  Christian  salutation  to 


310  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  TIL 

your  Avorthy  family,  especially  to  your  son,  Mr.  John  Ryland,  Jr.,  from 
whom  a  letter  would  be  most  acceptable  to  him  who  wishes  you  the  high 
est  felicity,  and  is  with  every  sentiment  of  esteem,  dear  sir, 

Your  unworthy  brother  and  servant  in  the  gospel, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Stennett,  to  whom  Manning  here  refers, 
thus  writes  under  date  of  May  14,  1783  :  — 

DEAR  SIR: 

It  is  a  long  time  since  I  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  from  you.  Among 
other  evils  that  have  been  suffered  from  the  late  unhappy  and  unnatural 
condition  between  this  country  and  North  America,  the  embargo  that  has 
been  laid  upon  epistolary  correspondence  is  no  inconsiderable  one.  But 
this  evil  is  now  removed,  and  you  will  give  me  leave  to  congratulate  you 
on  the  event.  We  won't  at  present  enter  into  the  various  political  reason 
ings  concerning  this  extraordinary  revolution.  God  is  no  doubt  bringing 
about  his  great  purposes,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  even  during  the  late 
perilous  times  the  temple  of  the  Lord  has  been  building  with  you  as  well 
as  with  us. 

This  letter  my  friend  Mr.  Mullctt,1  brother-in-law  to  Mr.  Caleb  Evans 
of  Bristol,  puts  into  your  hands.  He  is  a  very  worthy,  sociable  man,  goes 
over  upon  very  considerable  affairs  of  a  mercantile  kind,  and  will  be 
capable  of  giving  you  a  variety  of  information.  My  brevity  now,  there- 

1  Thomas  Mullett,  Esq.,  a  merchant  of  the  first  respectability.  He  was  a  na 
tive  of  Taunton,  England,  and  died  at  Clapham,  Nov.  14,  1814,  in  the  sixty- 
ninth  year  of  his  age.  He  possessed,  says  his  biographer,  an  excellent  under 
standing,  and  was  a  firm  friend  to  civil  and  religious  liberty.  The  following 
anecdote  is  related  of  him  in  Evans's  Life  of  Richards :  — 

"  Thomas  Mullett,  Esq.,  was  soon  after  the  American  war  at  Mount  Vernon, 
the  seat  of  General  Washington.  Besides  other  flattering  marks  of  attention, 
Washington,  when  alone  with  him  in  his  library,  asked  him  if  he  had  seen  any 
individual  in  that  country  who  was  competent  to  the  task  of  writing  a  history 
of  the  late  unhappy  contest.  Mr.  M.  replied,  with  his  usual  presence  of  mind, 
« I  know  of  one,  and  one  only,  competent  to  the  task.'  The  General  eagerly 
asked,  'Who,  sir,  can  that  individual  be?'  Mr.  M.  remarked,  'Caesar  wrote 
his  own  commentaries! '  The  General  bowed,  and  replied,  '  Cresar  wrote  his 
own  commentaries;  but,  sir,  I  know  the  atrocities  committed  on  both  sides  have 
been  so  great  and  many  that  they  cannot  be  faithfully  recorded,  and  had  better 
be  buried  in  oblivion.'  " 


1780-1783.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY. 

fore,  you  will  excuse.  It  will  be  an  opening,  I  hope,  to  a  familiar,  happy 
correspondence  between  us.  The  state  of  religion  with  you,  and  of  the 
college  in  llhode  Island,  I  should  be  glad  to  understand.  Be  so  good  as 
to  remember  me  affectionately  to  all  our  Christian  friends,  the  ministers  in 
particular,  Mr.  Backus,  etc.,  etc. 

We  have  had  many  changes  in  our  congregation  by  death ;  but  I  hope 
religion  in  our  denomination  is  not  on  the  decline.  Of  good  Mr.  Wallin's 
death  you  have  no  doubt  heard.  His  place  is  not  yet  supplied.  My 
health  has  of  late  been  but  indifferent,  but  through  the  goodness  of  God 
it  is  now  better. 

I  am  just  publishing  a  volume  of  discourses  on  domestic  duties,  one 
of  which  either  Mr.  Mullett,  or  Mr.  Stillman  —  who,  I  take  it,  is  still  at 
Boston  —  will  put  into  your  hands. 

You  will  excuse  my  hurrying  manner  at  present,  and  be  assured  that  I 
am,  very  dear  sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend  and  brother, 

SAMUEL  STENNETT. 

Manning's  reply  is  one  of  unusual  length,  and  seems  to 
have  been  written  with  special  care.  It  is  of  itself  a  his 
tory  of  the  times  during  the  American  war :  — 

PROVIDENCE,  Nov.- 8th,  1783. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

Yours  of  May  14th  was  lately  handed  me  by  Thomas  Mullett,  Esq., 
whom  I  find  to  justify,  and  more,  the  excellent  character  you  gave  him  ; 
though  we  have  had  but  a  small  share  of  his  agreeable  company,  owing 
to  his  attention  to  his  widely-extended  mercantile  concerns.  I  most 
heartily  rejoice  to  have  a  free  communication  again  opened  between  Eng 
land  and  America ;  for  this  I  have  earnestly  wished  ever  since  its  first 
interruption.  May  heaven  forbid  its  ever  being  again  shut !  But  I  feel 
peculiarly  happy  in  the  honor  you  have  done  me  in  the  renewal  of  our 
correspondence.  I  congratulate  you  on  the  restoration  of  your  health, 
and  hope  you  may  be  long  continued,  a  rich  blessing  to  the  church  of 
God.  The  flourishing  state  of  our  society  with  you  is  pleasing. 

During  some  of  the  first  years  of  the  war,  God  was  pleased  to  display 
his  power,  in  many  parts  of  New  England,  in  a  glorious  manner,  and 
thousands  embraced  the  Baptist  principles  ;  but  those  halcyon  days  soon 


312  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VII. 

ended,  since  which  has  ensued  an  amazing  apostasy.  The  delusion  of 
Rellcy,1  in  his  book  called  the  Union,  etc.,  has  been  propagated  with  the 
most  astonishing  success  by  John  Murray.  This  doctrine  of  universal 
salvation  has  been  licked  into  various  forms  by  its  numerous  zealous  ad 
vocates  ;  and  as  it  so  exactly  coincides  with  the  carnal  mind,  has  been 
sucked  in  by  multitudes,  among  whom  are  not  a  few  professors  of  religion, 
with  great  avidity. 

About  the  same  time  one  Jemima  Wilkinson,2  near  this  place,  who  had 
been  educated  amongst  the  Quakers,  pretended  that  she  had  been  dead, 
reanimated  with  a  celestial  spirit,  and  endowed  with  an  extraordinary, 
commission  from  heaven  to  preach  the  gospel.  She  sometimes  called 
herself  the  Comforter ;  and  sometimes,  when  in  an  audience  of  great  num 
bers,  pointing  to  herself,  said  that  when  Jesus  Christ  first  appeared,  he 
came  in  the  flesh  of  a  man,  but  that  he  was  now  come  in  the  flesh  of  a 
woman.  She  has  continued  to  traverse  the  country  and  publicly  preach 
ever  since,  accompanied  with  a  number  of  disciples  who  do  her  homage 
on  their  bended  knees.  Many  have  been  carried  away  with  her  delusion, 
and  believe  her  to  be  the  Saviour.  But  to  close  the  rear,  a  number  of 
people,  who  came  from  the  west  of  England  about  the  commencement  of 
the  war,  under  the  direction  of  an  old  woman  whom  her  adherents  call 
the  Mother,  the  Elect  Lady,  etc.,  etc.,  pretend  that  the  new  dispensation  has 
taken  place,  and  that  they  are  the  only  and  true  church.  They  pretend 
to  absolve  the  sins  of  their  disciples,  and  of  course  require  particular  con 
fession  to  be  made  to  them.  Their  particular  worship  consists  in  dancing, 
turning  round  on  the  heel,  jumping,  singing,  and  embracing  each  other, 
while  they  pretend  to  talk  in  unknown  tongues,  work  miracles,  etc.,  etc. 
They  interdict  all  intercourse  between  the  sexes,  declaring  the  marriage 
contract  void,  and  pretending  to  a  state  of  absolute  perfection.  Some 
carnal  fruits,  however,  have  inadvertently  resulted  from  their  chaste  em 
braces.  And  —  would  you  believe  it  1  —  vast  numbers  of  those  who  once 

1  "  Doctrine  of  union  between  Christ  and  bis  Church.     By  James  Relley." 
8vo.    London,  1731. 

2  Jemima  Wilkinson  was  born  in  Cumberland,  11. 1.,  about  the  year  1753.    In 
1789  she  and  her  followers  removed  to  Yates  county,  New  York,  where  they 
founded  a  colony.    She  exacted  from  her  adherents  the  most  complete  submis 
sion  and  the  most  menial  services.    After  her  death,  which  took  place  in  July, 
1819,  the  colony  was  broken  up.    A  narrative  of  her  life  and  character,  by  David 
Hudson,  was  published  at  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  in  1821,  making  a  duodecimo  volume 
of  two  hundred  and  twenty-eight  pages. 


1780-1783. 


BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  313 


appeared  serious,  well  disposed-persons,  have  followed  their  pernicious 
ways.  They  are  not  to  be  reasoned  with  ;  alleging  that  they  know  they 
are  right,  and  they  will  rave  like  madmen  when  opposed,  ealling  this 
the  effect  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  While  these  delusions  on  the  one  hand 
attack  the  truth  of  the  gospel,  growing  infidelity  on  the  other  lends  all  its 
aid  totally  to  subvert  and  destroy  it,  whilst  the  professed  friends  of  it 
seem  too  generally  overwhelmed  and  in  a  deep  sleep.  This,  you  say,  is 
a  dismal  picture,  but  not  more  so  than  true.  Yet  there  are  those  who 
stand  fast  in  the  truth,  and  some  late  revivals  encourage  us  to  hope  for 
better  days.  One  thing,  however,  is  favorable,  —  a  spirit  of  toleration 
more  universally  prevails  throughout  New  England,  and  the  doctrines  of 
religious  as  well  as  civil  liberty  are  better  understood  by  the  people  at 
large,  against  any  infractions  of  which  they  are  determined  to  guard. 

It  was  a  glorious  time  of  revival  in  our  church  when  the  war  first 
commenced,  but  when  the  town  became  a  garrison,  on  account  of  the  vi 
cinity  of  the  royal  army  on  Rhode  Island,  the  apprehensions  of  an  attack, 
and  the  daily  alarms  to  which  we  were  subjected,  induced  numbers  of  fam 
ilies  to  retire  into  the  more  interior  parts  of  the  country,  not  only  for  safety 
bat  subsistence.  This  scattered  our  church  and  congregation  abroad,  which 
has  never  been  collected  since,  near  fifty  of  our  members  not  having  yet 
returned.  These  things,  with  the  disinclination  of  many  to  attend  public 
worship  from  the  example  of  the  army,  have  greatly  reduced  us.  It  has 
been  a  season  of  heavy  trials  with  great  numbers  of  our  churches,  several 
of  which  have  been  almost  totally  dispersed.  After  all,  when  I  view  the 
last  eight  years,  and  reflect  on  the  amazing  anxiety  and  distress  through 
which  we  have  waded,  and  the  astonishing  goodness  of  God  in  preserving 
so  many  of  us  to  see  the  return  of  peace,  I  am  lost  in  wonder ;  especially 
when  I  consider  the  ingratitude  of  our  hearts  towards  our  glorious  Bene 
factor.  Thousands  and  thousands  of  families,  once  living  in  affluence, 
have,  by  the  war,  been  reduced  to  beggary.  Sometimes  famine,  and 
several  times  pestilence,  as  well  as  the  sword,  threatened  to  combine  for 
our  destruction.  But  language  fails  in  communicating  my  ideas.  I 
heartily  wish  you  may  never  know  by  experience  what  it  is  to  live  in  the 
midst  of  war. 

In  the  fore  part  of  December,  1776,  the  royal  army  landed  on  Khode 
Island,  and  took  possession  of  the  same.  This  brought  their  camp  in 
plain  view  from  the  college  with  the  naked  eye ;  upon  which  the  country 
flew  to  arms  and  marched  for  Providence.  There,  unprovided  with  bar 
racks,  they  marched  into  the  college  and  dispersed  the  students,  about 
27 


314  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VII. 

forty  in  number.  After  this  the  college  continued  to  be  occupied  for  a 
barrack  and  a  hospital  alternately  until  June,  1782,  when  it  was  left  in 
a  most  ruinous  situation.  The  corporation  advanced  out  of  their  own 
pockets  near  one  thousand  dollars  for  the  most  necessary  repairs,  and  or 
dered  the  course  of  education  to  recommence  ;  but  under  these  circumstan 
ces  the  number  of  students  was  small,  as  the  former  number  had  mostly 
completed  their  education  at  other  colleges,  or  turned  their  attention  to 
other  objects.  Last  September,  five  young  gentlemen,  who  had  studied 
with  me  in  private,  were  admitted  to  the  honors  of  the  college  at  a  public 
Commencement.  Their  performances  met  such  a  universal  approbation 
of  a  numerous  audience,  as  inspired  the  corporation  with  fresh  zeal  to 
promote  the  institution.  Mr.  John  Brown,  the  treasurer  of  the  college, 
offered  to  give  a  sum  equal  to  what  all  the  other  members  would  sub 
scribe,  towards  procuring  an  addition  to  our  little  library,  and  a  philosoph 
ical  apparatus.  By  this  means  we  obtained  subscriptions  for  near  £700 
lawful  money,  six  shillings  to  the  dollar,  and  the  catalogues  are  being 
made  out.  This  we  propose  to  follow  with  an  application  to  Europe,  as 
well  as  throughout  America,  for  further  benefactions.  We  have  nomina 
ted  persons  to  this  service,  but  we  fear  few  if  any  of  them  will  engage  in 
the  work,  on  account  of  the  difficulty  of  leaving  home,  and  the  fears  of 
not  meeting  a  cordial  reception  in  Great  Britain.  But  I  rejoice  to  find, 
from  late  accounts,  that  our  friends  remain  friends  to  the  college,  and 
wish  to  know  the  state  of  it.  This  encourages  us  to  solicit  every  assist 
ance  they  can  give,  all  of  which  we  greatly  need.  I  have  the  satisfaction 
to  find  that  it  has,  under  all  its  disadvantages,  been  instrumental  in  greatly 
promoting  Baptist  principles,  and  the  spread  of  civil  and  religious  liberty 
throughout  New  England.  Our  number  of  students  is  twelve,  and  more 
arc  expected  soon  ;  but  the  great  objections  Avhich  operate  against  us  are 
the  want  of  an  apparatus  and  library,  and  the  want  of  professors.  Of 
these  advantages  the  old  colleges  amongst  us  can  boast.  Our  library 
consists  of  about  five  hundred  volumes,  most  of  which  are  both  very  an 
cient  and  very  useless,  as  well  as  very  ragged  and  unsightly.1  Our 
prospects  to  remedy  this,  in  America,  arc  at  present  very  unpromising. 
Last  fall  the  state  of  the  college  was  laid  before  the  Associations  in  New 


1  The  friends  of  the  college  will  observe  the  contrast  between  these  five  hun 
dred  "  very  ancient,  very  useless,  and  very  ragged  and  unsightly  volumes,"  and 
the  noble  library  of  the  present  day,  with  its  thirty-five  thousand  standard  books 
of  approved  editions,  in  choice  and  substantial  bindings. 


1780-1783. 


BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  315 


England  and  Philadelphia,  which  strongly  recommended  to  all  the 
churches  to  make  collections  for  endowing  it ;  the  same  has  been  done 
this  year, — from  all  which  not  £20  sterling  has  been  raised,  such  is  the 
scarcity  of  money,  the  burden  of  taxes,  and  the  reduced  state  of  the  coun 
try.  The  society  at  large  never  before  appeared  so  disposed  to  assist  if 
it  were  but  in  their  power ;  but,  generally  speaking,  the  Baptists  here  are 
the  poor  of  this  world. 

Several  pious  youth,  who  promise  fair  for  the  ministry,  having  picked 
up  some  grammar  learning,  have  applied  to  me  to  know  whether  any  way 
can  open  for  their  assistance  in  getting  an  education.  This  has  led  me  to 
think  of  a  plan  to  assist  such,  and  I  have  sketched  out  the  following  : 
That  the  llev.  Messrs.  Samuel  Stillman,  Gardner  Thurston,  Isaac  Backus, 
John  Gano,  Hezekiah  Smith,  with  the  President,  be  a  standing  commit 
tee  of  the  corporation,  and  in  case  of  the  demise  of  any  of  them  their  num 
ber  to  be  filled  up  from  time  to  time  by  themselves,  who,  or  the  major 
part  of  them,  shall  examine  and  approve  of  such  as  shall  be  candidates  to 
receive  the  assistance  which  may  be  proffered  to  worthy  characters  in  that 
way,  and  to  say  in  what  proportions  it  shall  be  dealt  out  to  them.  It  will 
be  easy  to  procure  a  vote  of  the  corporation  to  invest  this  committee  with 
all  necessary  powers  to  discharge  this  trust ;  and  I  have  fixed  upon  men 
whose  doctrinal  and  practical  principles,  as  well  as  their  character  in  this 
country,  will  entitle  them  to  the  highest  confidence  of  benefactors  to  this 
fund.  I  was  long  since  convinced  that  a  plan  of  this  kind  would  be  vastly 
serviceable,  and  proposed  it  to  some  of  my  friends,  whose  only  objection 
against  it  was  its  interference  with  endowing  the  college,  which  was  an 
object  of  the  greatest  importance  ;  but  I  am  of  opinion  that  many  would 
be  induced  to  give  for  this  purpose  who  would  not  on  any  other  consid 
eration.  Should  a  donation  be  offered,  and  these  persons  be  mentioned 
for  the  trust,  in  this  way  I  have  suggested,  by  some  gentleman  out  of  the 
corporation,  I  am  convinced  that  it  would  immediately  take,  and  that 
something  considerable  could  soon  be  raised,  which  would  be  of  standing 
benefit  to  our  churches,  and  more  widely  disseminate  the  knowledge  of 
truth.1  Such  has  been  the  feeling,  through  New  England,  in  favor  of 

1  The  system  of  scholarships,  inaugurated  by  President  Sears,  is  based  upon 
the  same  general  principles  which  Manning  here  develops ;  with  this  difference, 
however,  —  that  the  scholarships  are  not  of  necessity  Baptist  in  their  character,  or 
confined  exclusively  to  students  who  have  or  who  may  have  in  view  the  Chris 
tian  ministry.  These  points  are  left  for  the  respective  founders  of  scholarships 
to  determine.  The  majority  of  them,  it  may  however  be  added,  serve  in  carry- 


81 6  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VII. 

a  college  education,  that  our  pious  illiterate  ministers  are  greatly  circum 
scribed  in  their  sphere  of  usefulness,  of  which  many  of  them  are  sufficiently 
sensible,  and  heartily  wish  their  successors  may  be  enabled  to  obviate  this 
objection.  A  great  and  effectual  door  is  opened  for  the  labors  of  Baptist 
ministers  throughout  our  vast,  extended  frontiers,  and  many  new  churches 
have  been  lately  constituted  in  that  howling  wilderness ;  and  indeed  the 
labors  of  our  society  seem  there  generally  preferred. 

I  fear  I  have  already  trespassed  upon  your  patience ;  but  you  wished  for 
various  information  ;  and  you  must  consider  this  letter  contains  the  sub 
stance  of  a  ten  years'  correspondence.  I  shall  be  happy  to  have  your 
assistance  and  patronage  of  the  college,  and  your  opinions  on  the  subjects 
proposed  by  the  first  opportunity.  I  had  forgot  to  mention  that,  amidst 
the  wreck  of  public  credit,  we  have  been  so  fortunate  as  to  preserve,  un- 
diminished,  our  little  fund,  though  as  yet,  from  the  exhausted  state  of  the 
treasury,  which  has  operated  greatly  to  my  personal  disadvantage,  we 


ing  into  effect  precisely  these  views  of  President  Manning.  At  the  meeting  of 
the  Warren  Association  held  in  the  year  1791,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stillman  presented 
a  plan,  which,  he  stated,  he  had  received  from  a  friend,  for  establishing  a  char 
itable  fund,  "  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  such  young  men  of  the  Baptist  denom 
ination  as  may  appear  to  be  suitably  qualified  for  the  ministry,with  a  collegiate 
education."  Who  this  friend  was  we  cannot  positively  state,  but  we  have  no 
doubt  whatever  in  regard  to  the  source  whence  the  plan  itself  originated.  After 
a  second  reading  it  was  unanimously  adopted  by  the  Association,  and  a  board  of 
trustees,  consisting  of  twelve,  was  chosen.  This  board  was  styled,  "  Trustees 
of  the  Baptist  Education  Fund.''  It  was  required  that  "  so  many  of  the  Baptist 
Fellows  of  Rhode  Island  College  who  are  members  of  churches  shall  be  trustees 
of  this  fund,:'  the  remaining  number  to  be  chosen  by  ballot  from  and  by  the 
Warren  Association.  Of  the  college  Fellows  on  the  board,  were  Dr.  Stillman 
of  Boston,  Dr.  Smith  of  Haverhill,  Ilev.  William  Williams  of  Wrentham,  Dr. 
Maxcy,  President  of  the  College,  and  Robert  Rogers,  Esq.,  of  Newport.  Those 
elected  by  the  Association,  were  Dr.  Backus  of  Middlcborough,  Dr.  Baldwin 
of  Boston,  Rev.  Joseph  Grafton  of  Newton,  Rev.  Noah  Alden  of  Belliiigham, 
Ilev.  Thomas  Green  of  Cambridge,  Rev.  George  Robinson  of  Bridgewater,  and 
Ilev.  Isaiah  Parker  of  Harvard. 

In  February,  1794,  the  society  thus  commenced  was  duly  incorporated  by  the 
Legislature  of  Massachusetts.  In  181G  a  separate  organization  was  formed,  which, 
in  1823,  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  "  The  Baptist  Education  Society  of 
the  Warren  Association."  At  this  time  the  funds,  now  amounting  to  S3GOO,  were 
equally  divided  between  this  society  and  the  Boston  Association,  which  had 
been  formed  in  the  year  1811.  Hence  the  origin  and  present  funds  of  the  society 
now  known  as  the  Rhode  Island  Baptist  Education  Society. 


1780-1783.  BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  317 

have  not  been  able  to  command  any  interest.    I  have  the  assistance  of  a 
tutor,  and  a  grammar  master  keeps  school  in  the  college  edifice. 

I  cannot  say  in  what  light  you  view  the  American  Revolution,  but  to 
serious  people  here  it  appears  to  be  of  God  ;  and  if  the  counsels  of  Great 
Britain  are  conducted  with  wisdom  and  moderation,  it  will  in  the  issue  be 
of  no  disadvantage  to  her  in  a  national  view.  In  a  religious  view  I  am 
certain  it  should  not  operate  to  produce  any  discord  among  the  subjects 
of  that  Prince  whose  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world.  As  far  as  my  ac 
quaintance  extends,  I  am  convinced  that,  on  our  part,  the  former  attach 
ment  still  continues  ;  and  I  am  sure  I  have  as  little  reason  to  doubt  it  on 
yours. 

Mr.  Mullett  was  kind  enough  to  put  into  my  hands  your  volume  on  do 
mestic  duties,  and  I  heartily  thank  you  for  the  pleasure  which  the  peru 
sal  of  it  gave  me.  I  wish  there  were  more  of  them  in  this  country.  They 
are  greatly  needed,  and  I  think  would  sell.  Before  the  Avar,  for  supply 
ing  the  college  and  my  friends,  I  kept  a  small  assortment  of  books,  which 
I  yearly  imported  from  London.  I  still  mean  to  do  the  same,  and  have 
thought  of  getting  a  number  of  our  Baptist  authors  for  the  supply  of  our 
society  in  different  parts  of  the  country.  I  think  there  has  not  been  suffi 
cient  attention  paid  to  our  own  writings  by  our  own  people.  Should  you 
think  proper  to  send  any  of  your  works  for  that  purpose,  on  the  same 
terms  which  booksellers  with  you  have  them,  I  shall  exert  myself  to  sell 
them,  and  directly  remit  you  the  money.  I  have  mentioned  my  letter  to 
you  to  Dr.  Llewelyn,  to  whom,  if  you  please,  you  may  show  it,  and  also 
to  Mr.  Ryland,  and  any  other  friend  who  may,  in  your  opinion,  be  dis 
posed  to  serve  the  college,  or  wish  for  the  information  which  it  contains. 
By  every  opportunity  I  shall  be  happy  to  receive  letters  from  Dr.  Stennett. 
With  sentiments  of  esteem,  I  am,  dear  sir, 

Your  brother  in  Christ, 

JAMES 


The  distinguished  scholar  to  whom  the  following  let 
ter  is  addressed  died  on  the  7th  of  August,  three  months 
previous  to  its  date.  What  he  would  have  done  for  the 
college  had  he  lived,  cannot  of  course  be  determined.  It 
is  certain  that  his  feelings  towards  the  institution  were 
friendly.  In  the  original  subscription  book  of  Morgan  Ed 
wards,  his  name  appears  as  the  largest  subscriber  on  the 
27* 


318  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VII. 

list.  Among  the  duplicate  books  presented  to  the  library 
by  the  Bristol  Education  Society,  we  notice  a  fine  uncut 
copy  of  the  "Biographia  Britannica,"  in  seven  volumes 
folio,  a  gift  from  Llewelyn,  who  bequeathed  his  library  to 
that  society.  It  contains  his  book-mark,  and  states  the 
time  of  his  death. 

TO  THOMAS  LLEWELYN,  LL.D.,  LONDON. 

PROVIDENCE,  Nov.  8,  1783. 

SIR:  —  By  Thomas  Mullett,  Esq.,  for  whose  agreeable  acquaintance 
I  am  indebted  to  an  introductory  line  from  Dr.  Stennett,  I  had  the  pleas 
ure  of  hearing  that  you  are  yet  alive,  and,  though  in  a  declining  state  of 
health,  are  still  protracting  your  usefulness  in  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer 
and  the  best  interests  of  mankind.  Your  known  zeal  in  promoting  the 
Baptist  society  for  a  series  of  years,  your  ability  to  serve  it,  and  the  de 
sire  you  expressed,  in  his  hearing,  of  knowing  the  state  of  the  college  at 
Providence,  have  encouraged  me  to  address  you  on  this  subject,  at  once 
to  give  that  information  and  to  solicit  your  patronage  of  an  institution 
which  has  already,  in  the  minds  of  unbiased  judges,  greatly  disseminated 
the  knowledge  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  through  this  country,  and 
added  respectability  to  the  Baptist  profession.  Bleeding  with  the  wounds 
of  war,  it  now  solicits  the  relief  which  the  benevolent  and  opulent  alone 
can  afford. 

From  its  first  establishment  until  the  commencement  of  the  late  unnat 
ural  war,  it  gradually  increased  in  the  number  of  students,  which  at  that 
time  was  about  forty.  It  then  began  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  public, 
and  bid  fair  to  have  been  greatly  augmented  in  numbers,  as  many  were 
then  preparing  with  a  design  to  complete  their  education  here.  This  town 
becoming  a  frontier,  in  the  year  1776,  the  troops  took  possession  of  the 
edifice,  to  which  purpose  it  continued  to  be  appropriated  until  June,  1782. 
Great  waste  and  destruction,  you  will  naturally  conclude,  were  made  upon 
it  by  men  whose  profession  has  destruction  for  its  object.  To  repair  the 
edifice  the  corporation  advanced  money  out  of  their  own  pockets,  as  also 
to  fit  up  some  rooms  for  the  accommodation  of  students  who  are  likely  to 
enter  soon.  The  number  of  these  is  now  twelve,  and  more  are  soon  ex 
pected.  In  short,  we  want  nothing  but  a  proper  endowment  to  enable  us 
to  furnish  a  suitable  library  and  apparatus,  and  properly  support  able 


1780-1783.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


319 


instructors,  to  render  the  college  very  respectable  ;   the  grand  objection 
against  it  is  the  want  of  these  things,  of  which  they  can  boast  at  other  col 
leges.     Those  inimical  to  our  profession  are  exceeding  vigliant  to  prevent 
its  growth,  from  an  idea  of  its  importance  to  the  Baptist  cause.     Hitherto 
a  very  great  part  of  our  society  in  this  country  have  been  by  no  means 
friendly  to  it ;  but  many  have  altered  their  opinion,  and  would  assist  if 
they  could ;  but,  reduced  by  the  war  and  the  weight  of  taxes,  at  present 
they  can  only  wish  it  well.     Cambridge  college  was  so  fortunate  as  to  at 
tract  the  attention  of  a  Hollis,  New  Haven  of  a  Yale,  and  New  Hamp 
shire  of  a  Dartmouth,  who  have  given  their  names  to  these  seats  of  learn 
ing.     We  should  think  ourselves  no  less  happy  in  the  patronage  of  a 
Llewelyn.     Llewelyn  College  appears  well  when  written,  and  sounds  no  less 
agreeably  when  spoken.     Nor  do  I  know  a  name  which  it  would  please 
me  better  to  hear  extolled  on  our  public  anniversaries  as  the  founder  of 
the  institution.     The  charter,  one  of  which  I  beg  leave  to  present  to  you, 
empowers  the  corporation  to  give  the  college  a  name  in  honor  of  its  most 
distinguished  benefactor,  which  they  are  resolved  to  do.     I  know  your 
philanthropy  and  principles  of  liberty  would  not  suffer  you  to  object  that 
we  are  now  become  independent  of  the  British  empire.     You  too  well 
know  that  necessity,  dire   necessity  impelled  to   this  measure  a  people 
whose  feelings  revolted  at  the  idea  upon  any  other  ground.     Besides,  sub 
jects  of  the  Prince  of  peace  cannot  approve  of  strong  local  attachments.  It 
is  the  ardent  wish  of  the  human  mind  to  establish  a  permanent  fame.     As 
this  appears  to  be  a  passion  natural  to  man,  so  it  is  doubtful  whether  he 
feels  a  stronger,  or  one  that  ceases  to  influence  him  later.     And  what  can 
more  effectually  gratify  this  predominant   affection,  than   the   grateful 
recollection  of  the   latest   posterity  that  we   have  laid  foundations  for 
improving  the  human  intellect,  disseminating  useful  knowledge,  and  prop 
agating  the   gospel  of  peace  over  almost  half  the  globe  ?     If  we  con 
sider  the  rapid  progress  of  religion,  letters,  government,  and  arts  in  this 
new  world,  where  on  earth  can  a  theatre  be  erected,  from  which  the  hu 
man  character  can  be  exhibited  to  better  advantage  (in  largely  contribut 
ing  to  the  progress  of  religion,  society,  and  manners)  than  in  America'? 
But  you,  sir,  need  only  consider  that  patronizing  this  college  will  directly 
contribute  to  the  propagation  of  the  gospel  of  Christ  in  its  simplicity  to 
bestow  upon  it  your  friendship.     Of  the  prospects  of  this  I  have  given 
some  hints  to  Dr.  Stennett,  in  a  letter  of  this  date,  to  which  I  refer  you, 
as  I  have  desired  him  to  communicate  the  contents  of  it  to  his  friends, 
and  those  of  the  college,  particularly  requesting  him  to  show  it  to  Dr. 


°^u  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VII. 

Llewelyn.  Therein  I  have  mentioned  the  state  of  our  library,  apparatus, 
fund,  etc.  The  whole  interest  of  the  latter  does  not  amount  to  more,  if 
so  much  as  ,£60  sterling  per  annum.  We  propose  to  forward  our  cata 
logue  as  soon  as  it  is  ready,  and  invite  our  friends  to  lend  us  their  assist 
ance  in  purchasing  the  books.  Should  your  views  be  different  from  mine 
in  reference  to  the  premises,  I  beg  your  forgiveness  for  troubling  you  on  this 
subject  through  my  zeal  for  .ae  college  ;  but  should  you  think  favorably 
of  the  proposal,  you  will  do  a  singular  favor  to  a  grateful  corporation,  the 
Baptist  society  in  America,  and  I  doubt  not  to  remote  posterity,  but  to 
none  more  than  to  him  who,  with  every  sentiment  of  esteem,  has  the 
honor  to  subscribe  himself,  sir, 

Your  friend  and  servant  in  the  gospel  of  Christ, 
JAMES  MANNING. 

The  Warren  Association,  at  its  meeting  this  year,  to 
which  Manning  in  his  correspondence  alludes,  prepared 
an  address  to  their  "  friends  and  countrymen,"  which 
presents  a  faithful  picture  of  the  times  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  exhibits  in  a  pleasing  light  the  views  and 
prospects  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  We  cannot  resist 
the  temptation  to  introduce  here  the  closing  paragraphs. 
They  have  special  reference  to  the  college,  and  show  how 
intimate,  formerly,  were  the  relations  which  it  sustained  to 
the  churches :  — 

"  Permit  us  to  add  a  word  concerning  education,  and  we  shall  have 
done.  In  Genesis  xvii.  God  made  a  covenant  with  Abraham,  which  con 
stituted  a  church  in  his  household,  who  had  a  large  grant  of  choice  lands 
that  in  due  time  they  were  to  take  possession  of  by  destroying  the  heathen 
inhabitants  ;  and  as  long  as  that  state  continued,  they  were  to  make  a 
visible  difference  in  commerce  and  government,  as  well  as  worship,  be 
tween  the  circumcised  and  all  other  people  in  the  world.  In  the  same 
church  the  priests  were  to  have  the  whole  government  in  worship,  and 
were  also  to  declare  what  the  sentence  of  the  law  was  in  capital  cases ; 
and  the  judges  were  to  carry  the  same  into  execution  (Deut.  xvii.  8-12). 
When  Christ  came  lie  fulfilled  the  law,  and  abolished  those  distinctions 
among  men  ;  and  constituted  his  church  upon  a  better  covenant  —  estab- 


1780-1783. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  321 


lishcd  upon  better  promises.  His  word  calls  said  covenant  with  Abraham 
the  covenant  of  circumcision  (Acts  vii.  8),  but  in  after  ages  deceitful 
men  took  away  that  name,  and  called  it  the  covenant  of  grace  ;  into  which 
they  essayed  to  bring  children  before  they  believed,  or  could  choose  for 
themselves.  And  all  colleges  and  superior  places  of  learning  were  en 
tirely  under  the  command  of  such  men  for  many  centuries ;  by  which 
means,  natural  affection,  the  force  of  education,  temporal  interest,  and 
self-righteousness,  all  conspired  together  to  bind  people  in  that  way ; 
wherein  the  orthodox  have  claimed  a  right  to  treat  all  others  as  others 
have  not  a  right  to  treat  them.  But  a  college  is  now  erected  at  Provi 
dence  upon  a  plan  of  equal  liberty,  where  education  is  to  be  had  without 
any  sectarian  or  party  tests.  Other  colleges  have  been  erected  and  much 
of  their  expense  borne  by  governments  ;  but  this  has  been  done  entirely 
by  personal  generosity ;  and  some  men  of  influence  have  tried  to  crush 
it ;  therefore  it  calls  loudly,  to  all  lovers  of  knowledge  and  liberty,  to 
contribute  their  mite  towards  its  necessary  support." 


CHAPTEE    VIII. 

1784-1785. 


Letter  to  Manning  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rippon,  of  London  —  Most  of  the  Baptist 
ministers  in  England  on  the  side  of  America  in  the  war  —  Manning's  reply  to 
Rippon  —  Apostasy  of  Rev.  Elhauan  Winchester  —  Sketch  of  Hon.  Asher 
Robbins  —  Baptists  compelled  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  Pedobaptist 
worship  in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  —  Resolution  of  the  Warren  Asso 
ciation  in  reference  thereto  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Thomas  Ustick  on  the  subject 
—  Sketch  of  Rev.  Elhanan  Winchester  —  His  troubles  with  the  Baptist 
church  in  Philadelphia  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  —  William  Wilkinson  and 
the  College  Grammar  School  —  Extract  from  the  Providence  Gazette  respect 
ing  the  transfer  of  the  school  from  the  College  to  the  brick  schoolhouse  — 
Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Caleb  Evans,  of  Bristol,  England  —  Condition  of  the  Col 
lege —  Efforts  to  add  to  its  funds  and  to  increase  its  library  —  Evans's  reply 
to  Manning  —  Illustration  of  Manning's  numerous  and  perplexing  cares  — 
Letter  from  Rev.  A.  Booth  —  Manning's  reply  — Letter  to  Rev.  John  Ry- 
land,  Jr.  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Rippou,  introducing  Dr.  Solomon  Drowue,  of 
Providence  —  Sketch  of  Dr.  Drowne  —  Letter  to  Hon.  David  Howell,  in 
Congress  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Thomas  Ustick  —  Degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity  con 
ferred  on  Manning  by  the  University  of  Pennsylvania — Second  letter  to 
Hon.  David  Howell  —  Letter  to  Thomas  Mackaness,  Esq.,  of  London  —  Man 
ning's  plan  to  establish  a  library  for  the  Baptist  Association  in  Kentucky  — 
Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Evans  —  Manning's  philanthropic  efforts  to  enlighten  the 
illiterate  Baptist  ministers  of  Kentucky  and  Virginia  —  Letter  to  Manning 
from  Hon.  Granville  Sharp,  of  London  —  Manning's  reply — Ecclesiastical 
matters  pertaining  to  the  Episcopal  Church — Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Rippon  — 
Biographical  sketch  of  Rev.  Stephen  Gano— Character  of  Hon.  Stephen 
Hopkins,  the  first  Chancellor  of  the  College  —  Letter  from  Rev.  Dr.  Evans 
announcing  a  donation  of  books  to  the  College  Library  from  the  Bristol  Edu 
cation  Society  —  Character  of  the  donation  and  of  the  aforesaid  Society  — 
Letter  to  Hon.  David  Howell,  in  behalf  of  the  Corporation,  urging  him  to  use 
his  influence  with  the  members  of  Congress  in  favor  of  a  petition  for  indem 
nity  for  injuries  which  the  college  building  sustained  during  the  war  —  Death 
of  Hon.  Joseph  Brown  —  Correspondence  between  Manning  and  John  Gill, 
of  London,  respecting  the  publications  of  Rev.  Dr.  John  Gill  —  List  of  Dr. 
Gill's  published  works  —  Pleasant  bibliographical  "  morceau  "  respecting  the 
first  volume  of  Backus's  Ecclesiastical  History. 


1784-1785.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  323 

THE  following  letter  is  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Rippon, 
of  London,  successor  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gill.  The  remarka 
ble  statement  which  he  makes,  that  all  the  Baptist  ministers 
in  London  but  two,  and  most  of  the  Baptist  clergy  in  the 
country,  were  on  the  side  of  the  Americans  in  the  "  late 
dispute,"  as  he  mildly  terms  the  war,  is  as  gratifying  to  us 
of  the  present  day  as  it  doubtless  was  to  Manning  and 
his  friends.  The  reader  of  the  correspondence  now  be 
gun  will  readily  perceive  that  Dr.  Rippon,  from  his  char 
acter  and  position,  was  well  qualified  to  judge  of  the 
views  and  feelings  of  his  brethren  in  matters  of  public 
moment. 

GRANGE  ROAD,  SOUTHWARK,  May  1,  1784. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

I  have  long  wished  for  an  opportunity  of  introducing  myself  to  you, 
and  to  several  other  brethren  on  your  side  of  the  Atlantic.  And  as  God 
in  his  wisdom  has  now  put  an  end  to  the  late  bloody  and  unrighteous 
war,  and  opened  a  free  communication  between  this  country  and  America, 
I  take  the  liberty,  by  the  hands  of  your  neighbor  Mr.  Chase  (who  speaks 
in  the  highest  terms  of  you,  Messrs.  Stillman  Gano,  etc.),  of  soliciting 
such  a  Christian  correspondence  as  your  wisdom  may  suggest,  and  your 
large  connections  and  many  avocations  may  permit. 

To  describe  myself  is  a  work  less  proper  than  what  I  wish  to  be  em 
ployed  in ;  but  as  it  is  probable  my  name  has  never  reached  your  ears,  it 
may  not  be  altogether  improper  to  hint  that  I  was  born  at  Tiverton,  in 
Devonshire,  about  forty  miles  from  Plymouth,  and  about  sixteen  from 
Upottery,  where  my  father  is  minister.  I  was  called  by  grace,  I  trust, 
when  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  became  a  student  at  Bristol  under  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  Hugh  and  Caleb  Evans  when  I  was  between  seventeen  and 
eighteen,  and  continued  there  between  three  and  four  years.  After  the 
death  of  Dr.  Gill,  I  was  invited  thence  to  town  as  a  probationer  amongst 
his  people,  and  with  them  have  been  comfortably  settled  as  pastor  for 
more  than  eleven  years.  The  church  now  consists  of  about  three  hun 
dred  members,  many  of  whom  arc  very  lively,  affectionate,  and  evangeli 
cal.  The  declaration  of  their  faith  and  practice,  which  they  made  at  their 
admission,  is  at  the  close  of  the  three  volumes  of  sermons  and  tracts  ac- 


324  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

companying  this,  your  acceptance  of  which  will  do  me  an  honor,  if  you 
consider  them  as  a  small  token  of  the  great  affection  I  bear  you  as  a 
faithful  and  honored  servant  of  our  illustrious  Master. 

Whatever  scepticism  attacks  my  mind,  of  this  I  am  certain,  that  there 
are  brethren  in  your  country  "  whom  not  having  seen  I  love."  This  has 
frequently  turned  to  me  for  a  testimony  of  my  having  passed  from  death 
unto  life.  Nor  did  I  least  of  all  experience  this  in  the  year  1780,  when 
Mr.  Wallin  (who  left  earth  for  heaven  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1783) 
received  a  letter  from  Boston  containing  an  account  of  a  great  revival 
through  New  England,  and  in  which  it  was  said  Mr.  Winchester  was  very 
instrumental.  I  sent  this  account  to  Mr.  Evans,  of  Bristol,  and  he  printed 
an  extract  from  it  in  the  following  Western  Association  letter.  It  afforded 
a  joy  amongst  many  churches  better  felt  than  described.  Some  of  us 
thought  with  pleasure  on  Isa.  lix.  19.  But,  alas  !  the  next  account  we 
hear  is  that  this  useful  man  has  wofully  changed  his  sentiments.  Lord, 
what  is  man  !  A  sermon  of  Mr.  Wallin's,  called  the  "  Outcasts  Com 
forted,"  on  Isa.  Ixvi.  5,  has  been  reprinted  here,  with  an  appendix  said 
to  be  written  by  one  Clarke,  a  mystic.  It  contains  observations  on  the 
seventh  trumpet,  and  a  dissertation  on  the  altar  of  brass  called  Ariel,  etc. 
My  heart  has  been  grieved  for  the  good  man,  and  I  have  wept  in  secret 
places  on  his  account.  Is  it  true  that  *Mr.  Morgan  Edwards,  to  whom  I 
intend  writing  soon,  has  printed  a  book  in  vindication  of  him? 

I  believe  all  our  Baptist  ministers  in  town,  except  two,  and  most  of  our 
brethren  in  the  country,  were  on  the  side  of  the  Americans  in  the  late 
dispute.  But  sorry,  very  sorry  were  we  to  hear  that  the  college  was  a 
hospital,  and  the  meeting-houses  were  forsaken  and  occupied  for  civil  or 
martial  purposes.  We  wept  when  the  thirsty  plains  drank  the  blood  of 
your  departed  heroes,  and  the  shout  of  a  king  was  amongst  us  when 
your  well-fought  battles  were  crowned  with  victory.  And  to  this  hour 
we  believe  that  the  independence  of  America  will  for  a  while  secure  the 
liberty  of  this  country ;  but  that  if  the  continent  had  been  reduced,  Britain 
would  not  long  have  been  free. 

The  last  Warren  Association  letter  that  I  have  seen  is  dated  1779.  It 
came  with  Mr.  Backus's  History,  Since  then  many  important  things 
must  have  happened,  and  it  may  be  there  is  much  good  news  to  be  con 
veyed  to  us  respecting  our  sister  churches  in  the  wilderness.  Glad  should 
I  be  to  hear  of  the  success  of  the  gospel  and  of  the  prosperity  of  the 
college.  When  shall  the  priests  of  Zion  be  clothed  with  salvation,  and 
her  saints  shout  aloud  for  joy  ?  O  Lord,  let  "  thy  kingdom  come,"  let  it 


1781-1785.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  325 

spread  through  all  the  world,  and  particularly  let  it  come  in  my  heart, 
and  in  the  heart  of  thy  honored  servant  for  whom  these  lines  are  de 
signed. 

If  I  am  not  mistaken,  the  Baptist  interest  in  this  country  is  more 
flourishing  than  the  Presbyterian  or  Independent.  In  most  of  our  churches 
there  is  a  cordial  attachment  to  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  attended  with  a 
greater  liberality  towards  others  who  differ  from  us  than  was  formerly 
expressed.  May  a  Christian  contention  for  the  truth  and  a  general 
Catholicism  forever  walk  hand  in  hand,  that  unconverted  men  may  have 
reason  again  to  say,  "  See  how  these  Christians  love  !  " 

This  afternoon  I  have  been  employed  in  packing  books  as  follows : 
Gill's  Sermons  and  Tracts,  3  vols.,  blue  boards,  for  yourself;  do.,  in 
sheets,  for  that  much  respected  man,  Mr.  Stillman,  of  Boston ;  a  dozen 
of  Watts 's  Hymns  and  Psalms,  and  half  a  dozen  Bibles  and  as  many 
Testaments,  to  be  disposed  of  as  you  think  best.  Gill  should  have  been 
bound  neatly;  but  as  Mr.  Chase  is  likely  to  sail  Monday  morning-,  it 
cannot  be  done.  Will  you  do  me  the  favor  of  making  this  apology  to  Mr. 
Stillman  if  I  have  not  time  to  write  him,  as  I  fear  I  shall  not,  for  it  is 
Saturday  evening,  nine  o'clock,  now,  and  it  was  past  eight  before  I  began 
this  hasty  scrawl. 

With  the  above  I  have  sent  three  prints,  — one  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gill,  an 
other  of  the  late  Rev.  Hugh  Evans,  my  much  esteemed  tutor,  and  another 
of  myself.  I  have  not  time  to  get  them  glazed  and  packed.  The  first 
two  deserve  a  respectful  place  in  the  college,  and  the  last  courts  no  situ 
ation  but  a  place  of  solitude  under  your  hospitable  roof.  I  shall  be  much 
obliged  to  you  to  circulate  the  proposals  which  relate  to  Saurin  and  Claude, 
and  to  notice  the  advertisement  of  Gill's  books  which  I  have  sent.  If 
any  of  your  friends  want  any  of  them,  I  can  procure  them  at  bookseller's 
price,  considerably  cheaper  than  the  printed  list.  It  will  rejoice  me  to  be 
of  any  service  to  them,  and  more  especially  if  they  arc  poor  ministers.  I 
have  not  time  to  read  this  over  now,  as  a  person  has  been  waiting  for  it 
while  I  write.  Excuse  my  haste.  Remember  me  respectfully,  if  you 
please,  to  Mr.  Howell,  your  assistant.  Pray  for  me,  write  me  the  first  op 
portunity,  and  be  assured  I  think  it  a  great  felicity  to  have  any  good 
reason  to  subscribe  myself, 

Your  affectionate  brother  and  servant, 

JOHN  RIPPON. 

P.  S. —  I  am  this-  week  thirty-three  years  of  age. 
28 


326  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

To  this  letter  Manning  replies  :  — - 

PROVIDENCE,  Aug.  3,  1784. 
EEVEKEND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

I  have  now  before  me  your  most  acceptable  favor  of  May  1,  for  which 
I  return  you  many  thanks,  as  well  as  for  the  package  and  its  agreeable 
contents.  I  felicitated  myself  on  a  large  and  free  correspondence  with 
Christian  friends  in  England  on  the  return  of  peace,  and  accordingly 
wrote  to  Mr.  Wallin,  from  New  York,  at  the  first  dawn  of  it,  but  soon  after 
received  information  that  he  had  rested  from  his  labors.  By  the  first  ves 
sel  from  the  State  this  was  followed  by  letters  to  Drs.  Stennctt  and  Lle 
welyn  and  Mr.  Ilyland  ;  but  these,  I  conjecture  from  your  letter,  never 
reached  them,  since  they  contained  such  information  as  I  judged  would 
be  wished  for  by  our  brethren  on  your  side  of  the  water,  and  such  as  in 
your  letter  you  request.  Nothing  could  be  more  agreeable  than  the  cor 
respondence  you  propose,  which  I  shall  endeavor  to  keep  up  with  the 
greatest  punctuality.  Your  letter  did  not  give  me  the  first  information  of 
your  name,  etc.,  as  Mr.  Wallin  had  favored  me  with  the  sermon  and 
charge  delivered  at  your  settlement.  But  the  interruption  of  all  inter 
course  by  means  of  the  war,  left  me  in  a  great  measure  ignorant  of  the 
state  of  our  churches  and  ministers  in  England,  until  Dr.  Stennett's  letter, 
last  fall,  by  Mr.  Mullett,  and  a  short  acquaintance  with  Capt.  Thomas 
Mesnard  last  May  in  New  York,  who  gave  me  such  a  pleasing  idea  of 
Mr.  Eippon,  that  I  requested  him  to  present  my  Christian  salutation,  and 
inform  him  that  a  letter  would  be  highly  pleasing  to  your  unknown  friend. 

Your  letter,  it  appears,  was  then  written  in  consequence  of  Mr.  Chase's 
recommendation,  to  whom  I  am  obliged  for  his  favorable  opinion.  As 
soon  as  the  package  of  books  and  the  prints  came  safe  to  hand,  Mr.  Still- 
man's  were  sent  forward,  together  with  his  letter,  and  I  shall  distribute 
the  Bibles,  Testaments,  Psalms  and  Hymns  as  I  think  will  be  most  ser 
viceable  to  the  poor.  The  proposals  for  Dr.  Gill's,  Saurin's,  and  Claude's 
works  I  have  circulated ;  but  the  impoverished  state  of  the  country,  and 
the  disinclination  to  reading  books  on  religious  subjects,  presage  but  a 
small  sale  at  present.  Some,  however,  will,  I  expect,  be  wanted,  for 
which  I  shall  expect  your  kindly  proffered  services.  I  most  heartily  re 
joice  at  your  success  in  the  ministry,  and  the  happy  state  of  the  church  of 
which  you  are  pastor.  May  the  Lord  continue  to  strengthen  you  for  his 
service,  and  honor  you  with  many  more  seals  of  your  ministry.  You 
speak  the  language  of  my  heart  towards  brethren  in  your  country  when 


1784-1785.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 

you  express  your  affectionate  regard  for  us.     I  conceive  this  results  from 
the  very  nature  of  the  religion  of  Jesus.     Often  has  this  prompted  me  to 
plan  a  voyage  to  Europe  ;  but  such  have  hitherto  been,  and  most  proba 
bly  will  continue  to  be,  my  embarrassments,  that  I  shall  be  denied  this 
privilege ;  but  I  hope  to  meet  the  whole  family  at  home,  and  forever  enjoy 
their  improving  society  above  when  our  labors  on  earth  are  finished, 
prints  of  Dr.  Gill  and  Rev.  Hugh  Evans  shall  have  a  respectful  place  : 
the  college,  and  as  I  daresay  Mr.  Rippon  loves  good  company,  he  will 
excuse  me  for  placing 'his  there  also.     Not  that  I  am  unwilling  to  furnish 
it  and  its  agreeable  original,  with  the  best  accomodations  my  house  can 
afford,  for  this  I  should  esteem  a  peculiar  favor;  but  as  I  promise  mysel 
your  future  patronage  of  the  college,  I  know  of  no  place  so  suitable  as 

that. 

The  apostasy  of  Mr.  Winchester  has  been  for  a  lamentation  am 
us.     Self-exaltation  was  the  rock  on  which  he  split.     Though  he  had 
from  the  first  been  remarkable  for  instability  of  character,  he  inflicted  a 
grievous  wound  on  the  cause,  especially  in  Philadelphia  ;  but  I  think  he  is 
now  at  the  end  of  his  tether.     His  interest  is  declining,  which  will  most 
probably  prove  a  deadly  wound.     I  saw  him  last  May,  and  from  his  ap 
pearance  think  he  has  nearly  run  his  race.     His  state  of  health  will  not 
admit  of  his  preaching,  and  by  a  letter  last  week  from  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Ustick,  who  now  supplies  the  pulpit  in  Philadelphia,  I  learn  that  Win 
chester  and  his  friends  have  lost  the  case  in  their  suit  for  the  meeting-house 
and  the  property  of  the  church.    It  really  appeared  that  God  owned  his 
labors  in  the  revival  in  New  England.     Perhaps  for  attempting  to  take 
the  glory  to  himself,  He  has  laid  him  aside  as  an  improper  instrument  for 
his  work,  who  justly  challenges  the  whole  of  it  as  his  own.    Erom  common 
fame,  and  from  what  I  myself  saw,  I  really  think  this  to  be  the  case. 

Mr.  Morgan  Edwards  has  not  printed  in  vindication  of  his  principles, 
but  he  read  me  a  manuscript  more  than  a  year  since  on  that  subject,  which 
he  did  not  own,  though  charged  then  with  being  the  author.  He  did  not 
deny  it ;  whereby  he  was  entreated  not  to  add  the  printing  of  this  to  the 
long  list  of  imprudent  things  which  had  already  so  greatly  grieved  his 
friends  and  so  injured  his  reputation.  This  plainness  did  not  please  him, 
but  I  thought  the  use  of  it  was  duty. 

Enclosed  I  send  you  the  minutes  of  the  Eastern  Association  since  the 
year  1779  ;  and  as  I  flatter  myself  that  my  letters  must  have  reached  Dr. 
Stennett,  etc.,  before  this,  I  refer  you  to  the  information  which  they  con- 
tain,  observing  in  general  that  at  the  commencement  of  the  war  the  glo- 


328  M  A  N  N  ING    AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

rious  revival  in  which  the  college  and  the  town  of  Providence,  as  well  as 
many  places  adjacent,  had  so  largely  shared  (during  the  continuance  of 
which,  in  the  course  of  a  year,  I  baptized  more  than  a  hundred  persons), 
began  to  decline ;  and  except  the  visitation  you  refer  to  in  your  letter,  the 
state  of  religion,  saving  in  the  frontier  parts,  has  been  on  the  decline  until 
about  the  close  of  the  war,  since  which  public  worship  is  better  attended, 
and  many  souls  have  of  late  been  hopefully  converted.  On  a  visit  to 
New  York  and  the  Jerseys,  the  last  spring,  I  found  the  people  anxious  for 
the  word,  and  hopeful  appearances  in  almost  every  place  where  I  was 
called  to  preach.  By  a  letter  the  last  week  I  find  the  work  increases,  es 
pecially  under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Wilson,  a  young  minister  resident  at 
Bordentown  in  AYcst  Jersey,  and  my  Brother  Gano  in  New  York.  As 
Mr.  Backus  is  here,  I  prevailed  on  him  to  give  a  sketch  of  the  reformation 
between  two  and  three  hundred  miles  cast  of  us,  of  which  he  has  had  some 
direct  and  late  accounts.  This,  for  your  satisfaction,  I  also  enclose. 
Lord's  Day  sennight  I  conversed  with  a  person  from  there,  who  professed 
to  be  a  subject  of  the  work.  He  gave  a  most  remarkable  account  of  the 
display  of  God's  power  and  grace  amongst  them.  In  general  our  churches 
appear  to  stand  steadfast  in  the  doctrines  of  grace;  and  indeed  the  Bap 
tist  churches  are  almost  left  alone  in  defending  them  against  Arminians 
and  Universalists,  as  our  brethren  of  other  denominations  who  are  sound 
appear  much  discouraged.  I  believe  I  may  say  with  truth,  that  the  Bap 
tist  society  in  America  increases  more  rapidly  than  any  other  religious 
denomination  ;  but  in  general  we  arc  the  poor  of  the  world.  God  grant 
that  we  may  be  rich  in  faith. 

I  rejoice  to  hear  that  our  Baptist  brethren  in  England  sympathized  with 
us  in  our  deep  affliction.  Our  blood  indeed  was  wantonly  shed,  —  of  this 
I  have  been  a  deeply  interested  spectator,  —  but  I  trust  God  meant  it  for 
good.  I  think  I  can  say  that  I  never  in  one  instance  doubted  the  justice 
of  our  cause,  and  I  desire  to  bless  God  that  I  never  thirsted  for  the  blood 
of  those  who  were  shedding  ours.  But  I  wish  to  banish  from  my  mind 
those  scenes  of  horror. 

Brotherly  kindness  prevails  more  amongst  the  several  denominations 
throughout  New  England  than  heretofore,  and  of  course  the  prejudices 
against  the  Baptists  are  greatly  abated.  Nothing  is  more  common  than 
the  most  cordial  invitations  into  the  pulpits  of  the  Pedobaptists  when  I 
travel  through  the  country.  I  rejoice  to  hear  that  the  same  spirit  prevails 
with  you.  Union  in  Christ,  in  my  opinion,  should  lead  his  disciples  to 
the  strongest  expressions  of  love  towards  one  another. 


1784-1785 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  329 


The  college  edifice  suffered  greatly  by  the  troops,  who  had  it  in  posses- 
sion  nearly  six  years.  To  repair  these  damages  has  been  a  difficult  task, 
while  denied  compensation  from  the  public,  and  destitute  of  funds  for 
that  purpose.  The  members  of  the  corporation  have  repeatedly  submit 
ted  to  make  such  partial  repairs  as  were  absolutely  necessary  to  its  pres 
ervation.  With  all  these  difficulties  to  combat,  it  begins,  however,  again 
to  revive.  It  now  consists  of  twenty-two  members,  and  we  expect  an  ad 
dition  of  several  more  'this  fall.  Mr.  Howell,  my  former  colleague,  has 
been  for  several  years  in  the  civil  departments,  and  is  now  in  the  Conti 
nental  Congress,  where  he  has  been  upwards  of  two  years.  Mr.  Asher 
Bobbins,1  an  alumnus  of  Yale  College,  in  Connecticut,  is  now  a  tutor. 

Sept.  16.  As  no  opportunity  presented  to  forward  the  above,  I  beg 
leave  to  add  that  at  the  anniversary  meeting  of  the  corporation  of  the  1  st 
instant,  the  Faculty  testified  their  regard  for  Mr.  Eippon  by  conferring 
on  him  the  degree  of  Master  in  the  Arts.  I  should  have  herewith  sent  the 
diploma,  but  could  not  get  it  written  in  time.  Hope  by  the  next  oppor 
tunity  to  have  it  ready.  Last  week  I  attended  the  Association  at  Mr. 
Hunt's  place  in  Middleborough.  We  had  a  most  harmonious  meeting ; 
and  though  the  addition  to  our  churches  is  not  so  great  as  in. some  former 


1  Hon.  Asher  Bobbins,  LL.D.  He  was  born  in  Connecticut,  and  was  gradua 
ted  at  Yale  College  in  the  year  1782.  Soon  after  completing  his  collegiate  course, 
he  was  elected  a  tutor  under  Manning,  which  office  he  held  for  eight  years. 
While  thus  occupied  in  quickening  the  diligence  of  his  pupils,  and  in  imbuing 
their  minds  with  a  genuine  relish  for  the  varied  forms  of  classical  beauty,  he 
sought  every  opportunity  to  cultivate  his  own  taste  for  the  classics,  and  indeed 
for  every  species  of  elegant  learning.  After  resigning  his  tutorship,  he  studied 
law  under  the  Hon.  William  Channing,  of  Newport,  at  that  time  the  Attorney 
General  of  Rhode  Island.  Here  he  established  himself  in  the  practice  of  the 
law,  where  he  resided  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  From  1825  to  1839  he 
was  an  honored  and  useful  member  of  the  United  States  Senate.  He  seldom 
engaged  in  the  debates  of  that  body,  but  on  no  occasion,  says  Prof.  Godclard, 
did  he  address  the  senate  without  leaving  on  the  minds  of  all  who  heard  him  a 
decided  impression  of  his  high  intellectual  powers  and  accomplishments,  of  his 
ability  as  a  statesman,  and  his  acquisitions  as  a  scholar.  He  died  at  Newport,  in 
1845,  having  lived,  "  by  reason  of  his  strength,"  fourscore  years  and  more. 

Mr.  Bobbins  was  the  first  librarian  of  Brown  University,  as  we  learn  from  a 
letter  respecting  its  early  history  in  which  he  thus  writes :  "  At  the  reorganixa- 
tion  of  the  college,  in  the  autumn  of  1782, 1  was  appointed  to  the  office  of  tutor, 
and  took  charge  of  the  library  as  librarian.  It  was  then  kept  in  the  east  cham 
ber,  on  the  second  floor,  of  the  central  building."  A  good  likeness  of  Mr.  Bob 
bins  is  among  the  collection  of  portraits  in  Bhode  Island  Hall. 

28* 


330  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

years  past,  yet  there  are  many  promising  appearances  of  a  revival  in 
them.  There  were  present  some  ministering  brethren  from  the  eastern 
part  of  New  Hampshire,  and  Mr.  Case,  of  whom  Mr.  Backus  makes  men 
tion,  as  being  signally  blessed  as  an  instrument  in  turning  many  to  God 
in  the  northeastern  parts  of  Massachusetts.  They  assured  us  that  God 
was  working  wonders  through  a  great  extent  of  that  newly-settled  coun 
try,  that  gospel  laborers  were  much  wanted  there,  and  that  in  the  re 
vivals  great  numbers  embraced  the  Baptist  principles.  The  most  SOITOAV- 
ful  accounts  we  received  were  from  several  places  in  the  Massachusetts 
and  Connecticut  States,  where  Pcdobaptists  are  again  taxing  our  people, 
and  seizing  their  persons  and  property,  to  compel  them  to  support  their 
worship.  Poor  men  !  They  grudge  their  neighbors  that  liberty  which 
they  themselves  enjoy,  and  for  which,  by  their  sides,  they  have  fought  and 
bled.  This,  however,  in  the  issue  may  operate  favorably.  The  whole 
body  of  Baptists  seem  determined  to  maintain  their  rights,  and  support 
those  who  may  be  called  to  suffer.  This  you  will  see  by  a  resolution1 
entered  into  at  the  Association,  the  minutes  of  which  I  should  have  now 
sent  had  they  been  printed.  Probably  Mr.  Stillman  may  obtain  and  en 
close  them  before  Capt.  Scott  sails.  Last  Lord's  Day  our  church  received 
in  two  persons.  I  had  not  been  called  on  to  administer  baptism  before  in 
near  two  years.  Others  appear  under  serious  impressions.  May  the 
Lord  graciously  revive  his  work.  I  forgot  to  mention  that  the  Hon.  Jo 
seph  Brown,  a  member  of  the  corporation,  a  philosophical  genius,  was  at 
our  last  meeting  chosen  Professor  of  Experimental  Philosophy  iu  this 
college ;  and  Dr.  Benjamin  Waterhouse,  M.D.,  of  Leyden,  was  chosen 
Professor  of  Natural  History,  —  both  of  whom  engaged  to  give  lectures  in 

1  The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  minutes  of  this  meeting  of  the  Warren 
Association,  held  at  Middleborough,  Mass.,  Sept.  7,  8,  1784,  of  which  meeting 
President  Manning  was  moderator :  — 

"  Accounts  were  received  from  various  parts  of  our  country,  that  distress  has 
lately  been  made  upon  a  number  of  our  brethren  and  friends  for  the  support  of 
away  of  worship  which  we  conscientiously  dissent  from;  which  is  not  only  a 
violation  of  the  law  of  God,  but  also  directly  against  the  fundamental  principles 
of  the  late  revolution  in  America; —therefore  this  Association  are  resolved  to 
unite  in  the  most  prudent  and  vigorous  measures  for  putting  a  stop  to  these 
oppressions,  and  to  maintain  the  just  rights  of  our  brethren  and  friends;  and 
for  that  end  do  make  choice  of  the  following  committee  of  grievances,  to  act 
in  this  cause  according  to  their  best  discretion ;  and  we  will  recommend  it  to  our 
several  societies  to  communicate  their  proportion  of  the  necessary  expense  hereof. 
The  committee  chosen  for  this  purpose  are  our  beloved  Elders  Stillman,  Skill- 
man,  Smith  of  Haverhill,  Backus,  and  Blood." 


1784-1785. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  331 


their  respective  branches,  without  any  expense  to  the  college  while  desti 
tute  of  an  endowment. 

I  fear  I  have  wearied  your  patience,  and  therefore,  with  every  sentiment 
of  esteem,  rest,  dear  sir, 

Your  unworthy  brother  and  fellow-laborer  in  the  gospel, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

P.  S.  —  The  enclosed  packet  I  beg  you  to  forward  to  Mr.  Evans,  free 
of  expense,  if  you  can  conveniently,  besides  a  letter  to  him  containing  a 
catalogue  of  the  books  in  the  college  library.  He  has  encouraged  us  to 
hope  for  those  duplicates  which  they  have  by  a  late  donation,  and  of  which 
we  arc  destitute. 

President  Manning's  reply  to  a  letter  from  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Ustick,  to  which  reference  is  made  in  the  forego 
ing,  gives  more  in  detail  the  persecutions  of  the  Baptists 
under  the  oppressive  laws  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecti 
cut : — 

TO   THE   EEV.   THOMAS   USTICK,   PHILADELPHIA. 

PROVIDENCE,  Sept.  17,  1784. 
REVEREND  SIR  : 

Yours  of  July  llth  ult.  came  to  hand ;  but  having  no  good  opportunity 
of  sending  an  answer,  and  being  much  engaged  otherwise,  I  omitted  an 
answer  until  now.  I  am  glad  your  long  suit  has  determined  in  favor  of 
the  church.  I  hope  God  will  dispose  you  to  make  a  proper  improvement 
of  so  distinguished  a  favor,  and  the  people  be  disposed  to  employ  their 
property  to  his  glory.  I  have  communicated  the  contents  of  your  letter, 
agreeably  to  your  request.  Last  week  I  attended  the  Association  at  Elder 
Hinds's,  Middleborough.  Had  an  agreeable  meeting,  but  find  the  Congre- 
gationalists  in  Cambridge,  Brookfield,  Woodstock  in  Connecticut,  with 
some  other  places,  have  made  distress  on  the  Baptists  this  last  summer. 
Some  went  to  jail ;  from  others  they  took  their  stock,  land,  etc.  This 
does  not  look  much  like  liberty.  The  Association  recommended  the  pay 
ing  not  the  least  attention  to  their  ecclesiastical  laws,  and  resolved  that 
they  were  determined  to  maintain  their  claims  of  equal  liberty,  etc.,  and 
would  recommend  to  the  churches  to  support  the  sufferers.  I  am  sur 
prised  that  they  are  not  ashamed  to  hold  up  their  heads,  in  this  enlight 
ened  age,  in  such  a  shameful  cause.  But  perhaps  God  means  it  for  good. 


MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

"We  had  several  ministering  brethren  from  New  Hampshire  and  the 
northeastern  parts  of  Massachusetts,  who  refreshed  us  much  with  good 
tidings  from  that  quarter.  Many  have  there  been  turned  to  the  Lord,  and 
the  good  work  still  goes  on.  The  subjects  of  it  generally  adopt  believ 
er's  baptism.  There  are  great  calls  for  gospel  ministers  in  that  quarter. 
I  think  the  aspect  of  things  is  more  favorable  in  our  churches,  public 
worship  better  attended,  the  ministry  better  supported,  and  some  appear 
ance  of  a  revival  of  God's  work.  Even  poor  Providence  seems  to  share 
a  little.  I  baptized  one  young  man  last  Lord's  Day,  and  some  more  are 
under  serious  impressions.  Mr.  Ingalls  preaches  at  Grafton.  He  told  me 
the  other  clay  the  people  retained  a  great  affection  for  you,  and  recently 
wished  to  hear  from  you.  I  think  the  college  is  in  a  growing  state.  I 
expect  our  number  will  exceed  thirty  at  the  close  of  vacation.  At  the 
last  corporation  meeting  the  Faculty  conferred  the  degree  of  LL.D.  on 
Governor  Hopkins  our  chancellor,  and  of  A.M.  on  Mr.  John  "Rippon, 
Dr.  Gill's  successor.  Mr.  Joseph  Brown  was  chosen  Professor  of  Experi 
mental  Philosophy,  and  Dr.  Benjamin  Waterhouse,  Professor  of  Natural 
History.  They  have  both  engaged  to  lecture  without  salary  from  the  col 
lege  until  there  shall  be  proper  endowments  for  those  chairs.  Miss  Joey, 
daughter  of  Nicholas  Brown,  is  in  a  decline.  I  believe  the  rest  of  your 
friends  are  well  as  usual.  With  sentiments  of  esteem  and  respect  to  Mrs. 

Ustick  and  friends, 

I  am,  etc., 

JAMES  MANNING. 

The  Rev.  Elhanan  Winchester,  to  whom  reference  is 
made  in  the  preceding  correspondence,  had  been  a  Bap 
tist  clergyman  of  great  repute  in  New  England.  He  was 
born  in  Brookline,  Mass.,  on  the  30th  of  September,  1751. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  became  pious,  and  united  with 
the  church  in  his  native  town.  Soon  afterwards  he  com 
menced  the  public  work  of  the  ministry.  Subsequently 
experiencing  a  change  in  some  of  his  views  of  religion,  he 
visited  Canterbury,  Ct.,  where  he  was  baptized  by  Elder 
Ebenezer  Lyon,  and  received  as  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church.  In  the  spring  of  1771  he  removed  to  Rehoboth, 
Mass.,  where  he  remained  one  year.  He  afterwards 


1784-1785.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  333 

preached  in  various  parts  of  New  England  and  South  Car 
olina.  His  extraordinary  memory,  his  eloquence,  and  ap 
parent  zeal,  excited  great  interest,  and  multitudes  flocked 
to  hear  him.  Unusual  success  attended  his  ministry,  and 
his  name  became  celebrated  in  all  the  churches.  In  the 
year  1781  he  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  advocated 
the  doctrine  of  universal  restoration,  and  was  excluded 
in  consequence  from  the  fellowship  of  the  Baptist  denom 
ination.1  He  preached  for  several  years  to  his  adherents 


1  An  account  of  this  affair  may  be  found  in  a  little  pamphlet  entitled  "  An  Ad 
dress  from  the  Baptist  Church  in  Philadelphia,  to  their  Sister  Churches  of  the 
same  Denomination,  throughout  the  Confederate  States  of  North  America. 
Drawn  up  by  a  Committee  of  the  Church  appointed  for  said  purpose."  18mo. 
Philadelphia:  Printed  by  Robert  Aitken,  1781.  pp.  16.  A  few  extracts  from  this 
rare  pamphlet  may  fitly  appear  in  this  connection. 

u  In  the  beginning  of  October,  1780,  Mr.  Elhanan  Winchester,  a  native  of  Mas 
sachusetts  Bay,  New  England,  came  as  a  messenger  from  the  Warren  Association 
to  ours,  which  was  then  nigh  at  hand.  Many  of  the  members  having,  previous 
to  this,  repeatedly  heard  him  preach,  not  the  least  suspicion  existed  but  that  he 
continued  an  advocate  for  that  faith  which  we  look  upon  as  the  faith  once  de 
livered  to  the  saints.  Accordingly,  at  a  meeting  for  business  the  9th  of  said 
month,  it  was  agreed  to  use  our  best  endeavors  to  prevail  on  him  to  stay,  and 
preach  for  us  a  limited  time.  In  two  or  three  days  after  this,  the  Eev.  Oliver 
Hart  arrived  in  town  from  South  Carolina;  we  were,  therefore,  from  many 
considerations,  prevented  doing  anything  decisive,  until  the  23d,  when,  at  an 
assembly  both  of  the  church  and  congregation,  it  was,  by  the  majority  then  pres 
ent,  deemed  most  consistent  with  the  resolution  of  the  9th  (a  deviation  therefrom 
carrying  with  it  an  appearance  of  injustice)  to  give  Mr.  Winchester  an  invitation 
to  tarry  with  us  during  the  space  of  one  year.  Being  waited  upon,  and  made 
acquainted  with  the  circumstances  attending  the  choice,  he  answered,  '  That  he 
was  sorry  we  were  not  entirely  unanimous  therein ;  but,  nevertheless,  consented 
to  supply  our  pulpit  for  six  months,  at  least,  and  longer  if  everything  should 
prove  agreeable.' 

"  Popular  applause,  the  idol  which  too  many  worship,  was  soon  discovered  to 
be  an  object  zealously  sought  for  and  courted  by  Mr.  Winchester.  To  accom 
plish  this,  persons  wrere  every  week  hastily  admitted  to  baptism,  upon  the  slight 
est  examination ;  though  we  really  believe  that  among  the  number  are  several 
sincere  Christians,  who,  during  this  season  of  trial,  have  not  been  ashamed 
openly  to  discountenance  his  errors.  Various  innovations,  contrary  to  our  es 
tablished  discipline,  were  introduced  through  his  means.  The  church  undertook 


334  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

in  Philadelphia,  among  whom  his  biographer  includes  the 
celebrated  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush,  and  Dr.  John  Redman, 
first  President  of  the  College  of  Physicians  in  Philadel 
phia.  In  1787  he  removed  to  London.  He  published  many 
religious  and  controversial  works,  the  most  important  of 
which  are,  Dialogues  on  Universal  Restoration  ;  Lectures 
on  the  Prophecies,  2  vols.  8vo. ;  Letters  on  the  Divinity 
of  Christ ;  Defence  of  Revelation  ;  Oration  on  the  Discov- 


a  reform.  In  some  respects  success  attended  us;  in  others,  an  obstinate  adher 
ence  marked  his  character. 

"  The  principal  foundation  of  the  greatest  uneasiness  we  shall  now  proceed  to 
consider.  Early  in  the  winter  it  was  whispered  to  a  few,  that  Mr.  Winchester, 
notwithstanding  his  artful  endeavors  to  conceal  the  same  in  his  public  discours 
es,  held  the  doctrine  of  a  linal  restoration  of  bad  men  and  angels  from  hell ;  that 
the  whole  of  Adam's  progeny,  yea,  the  devils  themselves,  at  certain  different  pe 
riods,  would  be  delivered  from  their  torment,  and  made  completely  happy ;  in 
other  words,  that  he  peremptorily  denied  the  endless  duration  or  perpetuity  of 
future  punishment.  The  method  taken  by  him,  at  first,  to  propagate  this  wicked 
tenet,  was  by  '  creeping  into  houses,  and  leading  captive  persons  of  weak  capac 
ities,'  wherein  he  met  with  too  much  encouragement.  Alarmed  at  this  authen 
ticated  report,  he  was  at  different  times  privately  conversed  with  on  the  subject 
by  several  of  the  members.  He  did  not  presume  to  contradict  it  fully,  and  yet 
his  confession  was  by  no  means  satisfactory.  Upon  these  occasions  he  would 
frequently  intimate  his  intention  of  going  away,  provided  the  smallest  division 
took  place  on  his  account;  while  at  the  same  juncture,  as  opportunity  served,  he 
failed  not  to  use  arguments  in  order  to  gain  proselytes." 

The  result  of  all  this,  the  Address  goes  on  to  add,  was  the  introduction  of  the 
whole  matter  at  a  church  meeting  held  on  the  5th  of  March,  1781.  Much  debat 
ing  ensued;  the  members  became  divided  into  two  distinct  parties,  and  finally 
a  protest  against  the  doctrine  of  universal  restoration,  as  a  dangerous  heresy, 
was  signed  by  sixty-seven  of  the  most  substantial  and  influential  members  of  the 
church.  This  number  was  afterwards  increased  to  eighty-six.  Upon  a  motion 
made  to  wait  on  Mr.  Winchester,  and  inform  him  that  he  could  not,  with  pro 
priety,  be  allowed  to  preach  for  them  any  longer,  the  protestors  found  them 
selves  in  a  small  minority,  Mr.  Winchester's  adherents,  including  many  of  the 
"  sisters"  and  younger  members  of  the  church,  "  being  rather  the  most  numer 
ous."  The  church  at  this  time  numbered  about  one  hundred  and  seventy.  The 
protestors,  however,  conscious  of  having  truth  and  justice  on  their  side,  viewed 
themselves  as  fully  authorized  to  act  independently  of  the  new  party.  They  ac 
cordingly  appointed  a  committee  of  two  to  wait  on  Mr.  Winchester  at  his  lodg 
ings.  This  committee,  failing  to  find  him  at  Lome,  addressed  him  a  letter,  which 


1784-1785.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  335 

ery  of  America,  with  an  Appendix ;  Eeigning  Abomina 
tions  ;  various  sermons,  etc.  Mr.  Winchester  died  on  the 
18th  of  April,  1797,  aged  forty-six  years.  He  appears  to  have 
been  a  man  of  sincere  piety,  notwithstanding  the  change 
in  his  theological  opinions.  His  biography,  by  the  Rev. 
Edwin  M.  Stone,  of  Providence,  was  published  by  Brewster 
of  Boston,  in  1836.  The  book,  which  contains  an  excellent 
portrait  of  Winchester,  is  now  extremely  rare. 

From  the  following  letter  it  appears  that  the  college  at 
this  time,  notwithstanding  the  financial  embarrassments  of 
the  people  in  consequence  of  the  war,  promised  better  than 
at  any  former  period  of  its  existence :  — 

TO    THE    REV.    DR.    SMITH. 

PROVIDENCE,  July  3,  1784. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

By  some  means  I  mislaid  your  last  to  me  in  which  you  mention  some 
buddings  of  a  spiritual  nature  amongst  you.  I  rejoice  to  hear  it.  Hope 

he  returned  at  once,  unopened.  Ou  Thursday  evening,  March  the  8th,  his  friends 
broke  into  the  meeting-house,  and  took  forcible  possession  thereof,  Mr.  Winches 
ter  preaching  notwithstanding  the  confusion.  On  the  ensuing  Sabbath  he  ad 
ministered  the  Lord's  Supper.  A  council  of  ministers  was  now  called,  and  com 
mittees  representing  the  two  parties  were  appointed  to  meet  them,  with  a  view 
to  an  amicable  adjustment  of  the  difficulties.  Failing  in  this,  the  members  of  the 
New  Party,  so  called,  were,  by  advice  of  the  council,  formally  excluded  from  the 
church.  Subsequently  Mr.  Winchester  was,  by  the  action  of  the  Philadelphia 
and  Warren  Associations,  formally  excluded  from  the  fellowship  of  the  Baptist 
denomination. 

The  Address,  of  which  we  have  given  the  substance,  was  dated  May  14, 1781, 
and  signed  by  Samuel  Miles,  William  Rogers,  Thomas  Shields,  and  John  M'Kirn. 
The  suit  for  the  possession  of  the  house  and  property  was,  as  we  have  already 
seen,  finally  decided  in  favor  of  the  Protestors,  as  they  were  then  called.  We 
have  devoted  more  space  than  could  be  well  spared  to  this  matter,  because  of 
its  importance,  and  also  because  it  is  frequently  alluded  to  in  Manning's  corres 
pondence.  Indeed,  Manning  was  himself  prominent  in  the  affair.  Mr.  Ustick, 
Winchester's  immediate  successor,  was  received  by  the  church  on  his  recom 
mendation;  and  he  was  a  member  of  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Philadelphia 
Association,  in  1781,  to  investigate  and  report  to  said  body  the  proceedings  of 
the  church  in  reference  to  Winchester  and  his  doctrines. 


336  MANNING  AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

it  may  gloriously  increase.  I  returned  the  27th  ult.  Mrs.  Manning 
sailed  that  day  sennight  to  enjoy  the  last  interview  with  her  dear 
mamma,  just  about  to  leave  us  by  a  consumption,  and  very  desirous 
of  seeing  her.  She  arrived  at  New  York  last  Tuesday.  Your  friends,  as 
far  as  I  could  hear,  are  in  usual  health.  The  Plains  are  destitute  of  a 
minister.  They  intend  to  try  for  Sammy  Jones.  Mr.  Eunyon  is  settled 
at  Piscataway,  where  are  some  appearances  of  a  revival.  The  general 
meeting  was  crowded,  ten  or  eleven,  ministers  present,  and  amongst  them 
Mr.  Hart,  who,  I  think,  will  settle  at  Hopcwell.  Cranberry  is  visited  with 
a  revival,  as  are  some  other  places  in  some  small  degree,  especially  under 
the  ministry  of  Mr.  Wilson,  of  Bordcntown.  Mr.  Gano's  meeting-house 
is  completely  repaired  and  his  congregation  very  full.  Things  look 
rather  promising  in  New  York,  though  the  people  are  poor  after  their  exile. 
I  never  enjoyed  more  freedom  in  preaching  in  any  journey  in  my  life, 
nor  was  I  ever  more  attended  to.  The  college  consists  of  twenty- three  stu 
dents,  nine  being  added  since  the  vacation.  More  than  a  dozen  arc  ex 
pected  to  enter  in  the  fall.  We  have  a  number  of  promising  youth,  and 
amongst  them  is  my  nephew  Jimmy,  son  of  Jeremiah.  Mr.  Wilkinson1 

i  William  Wilkinson,  who  was  graduated  in  1783.  He  immediately  took 
charge  of  the  college  Latin  school,  which  charge  he  retained  until  1792.  He  was 
eminently  successful  as  a  teacher,  and  fitted  for  college  many  of  its  distinguished 
alumni.  In  1785  he  was  appointed,  librarian  of  the  college.  As  the  history  of 
the  Latin  school  forms  a  part  of  our  college  history,  we  may  be  pardoned  for  in 
troducing  here  an  advertisement  from  the  Providence  Gazette,  by  which  it  ap 
pears  that  the  connection  which  had  existed  between  the  school  and  the  college 
was  for  a  time  dissolved :  — 

"  William  Wilkinson  informs  the  public,  that,  by  the  advice  of  the  school 
committee,  he  proposes  removing  his  school  from  the  college  edifice,  on  Monday 
next,  to  the  brick  schoolhouse;  and,  sensible  of  the  many  advantages  resulting 
from  a  proper  method  of  instruction  in  the  English  language,  he  has,  by  the 
committee's  approbation,  associated  with  him  Mr.  Asa  Learned,  as  an  English 
instructor.  Those  gentlemen  and  ladies  who  may  wish  to  employ  them  in  the 
several  branches  of  the  Greek,  Latin,  and  English  languages  taught  grammati 
cally,  arithmetic,  and  writing,  may  depend  on  the  utmost  attention  being  paid 
to  their  children.  Greek  and  Latin  at  twenty-four  shillings  per  quarter;  Eng 
lish  at  sixteen  shillings. 

WILKINSON  AND  LEARNED. 

PROVIDENCE,  Oct.  20, 1786." 

In  tracing  further  the  history  of  this  Latin  or  grammar  school,  we  find  in  the 
records  of  the  corporation,  under  date  of  Sept.  4, 1794,  the  following:  "  Voted, 
That  the  President  use  his  influence  and  endeavor  to  establish  a  grammar  school 
iu  this  town,  as  an  appendage  to  this  college,  to  be  under  the  immediate  visita- 


1784-1785.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  337 

is  a  good  master.  The  school  is  nearly  up  to  twenty.  All  the  rooms  in 
the  two  lower  stories  are  now  full,  and  Ave  must  go  directly  to  finishing 
the  two  upper  ones,  at  least  the  third,  if  we  can  possibly  devise  ways  and 
means ;  which  I  expect  will  be  very  difficult.  I  think  the  advice  you  gave 
Mr.  "Wood  was  right,  and  he  will  doubtless  fare,  as  well  on  the  subject 
of  advancement  with  us  as  at  Jersey  College.  The  institution  promises 
better  now  than  at  any  period  of  its  existence.  Had  we  about  one  or  two 
thousand  pounds  more  to  provide  for  a  suitable  tuition,  I  should  rejoice. 
Secure  of  your  interest  in  sending  us  scholars,  I  shall  say  nothing  on  that 
head,  but  as  the  bearer,  Capt.  Thivell,  is  waiting,  must  conclude  with 
best  wishes  to  you,  lady,  and  all  friends. 

Yours,  as  ever, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

P.  S.  — Miss  Joey  Brown,  daughter  of  Nicholas,  is  fast  declining.  Her 
disorder  is  thought  to  be  the  consumption. 

President  Manning  now  begins  a  correspondence  with 
the  Kev.  Dr.  Caleb  Evans,  President  of  the  Baptist  acad 
emy  in  Bristol.  His  father  was  the  Rev.  Hugh  Evans,  one 
of  the  most  distinguished  Baptist  ministers  of  his  day. 
Dr.  Evans  proved  to  be  a  warm  friend  of  the  college,  and 
was  the  means  of  securing  valuable  books  for  the  library. 
He  died  on  the  9th  of  August,  1791,  in  the  fifty-fourth 
year  of  his  age.  He  published  a  collection  of  hymns,  and 
numerous  sermons  and  addresses,  the  greater  part  of  which 
are  to  be  found  in  the  library.  "  Our  Baptist  college  in 
America,"  says  Dr.  Rippon,  "  was  proud  to  confer  on  him 
her  highest  honors,  in  which  she  was  followed  by  the  prin 
cipal  and  professors  of  the  King's  College,  Aberdeen,  in 
the  year  1789." 

tion  of  the  President,  and  the  general  inspection  of  the  town's  school  committee, 
and  that  the  President  also  procure  a  suitable  master  for  such  school."  This 
resolution  was  doubtless  carried  into  effect.  Fifteen  years  afterwards,  as  we 
have  already  stated  in  a  previous  chapter  (see  page  198),  the  corporation  erected 
a  brick  building  for  the  accommodation  of  the  school,  at  an  expense  of  fifteen 
hundred  dollars.  This  building,  which  has  since  been  enlarged,  is  the  one  now 
occupied  as  the  "  University  Grammar  School." 
29 


MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

PROVIDENCE,  Sept.  13,  1784. 
REVEREND  SIR  : 

I  have  long  wished  for  a  favorable  opportunity  of  introducing  myself 
to  you,  and  am  happy  that  one  has  at  length  offered,  by  answering  your 
request  in  a  late  letter  to  my  friend  and  brother  Rev.  Samuel  Stillman, 
of  Boston.  Enclosed  is  the  catalogue  of  all  the  books  now  belonging  to 
the  college.  Nearly  one  half  of  them  have  their  bindings  much  broken, 
as  they  were  old  when  presented.  Besides  the  enclosed  we  have  ordered 
out  from  London  this  fall  about  fourteen  hundred  volumes,  a  catalogue 
of  which  we  sent  to  Dr.  Stennett,  requesting  his  advice  to  the  merchants, 
Messrs.  Champion  and  Dickinson,  in  the  purchase  of  them,  hoping  that 
he  may  point  out  whore  they  can  be  had  second-hand,  etc.  Of  this  you 
may  obtain  a  sight  by  applying  to  the  Doctor.  Together  with  that  we 
sent  a  catalogue  of  books  which  we  are  not  able  to  purchase,  but  which 
we  should  be  glad  to  receive  by  way  of  donation,  should  any  of  our 
friends  be  so  disposed.  "Were  I  not  oppressed  with  cares,  and  at  present 
destitute  of  assistance,  I  would  send  them  to  you  also.  If,  however,  I 
can  make  out  a  copy  of  these  catalogues  before  the  ship  sails,  they  shall 
accompany  this.  The  above-mentioned  fourteen  hundred  volumes  are  a 
donation  from  our  treasurer,  John  Brown,  Esq.,  of  Providence.  The 
amount  of  two  hundred  pounds  sterling  was  also  ordered  to  be  expended 
in  the  purchase  of  a  necessary  philosophical  apparatus,  in  addition  to 
what  we  already  have,  consisting  chiefly  of  a  telescope,  an  air-pump  and 
its  apparatus,  globes,  and  a  thermometer.  The  money  for  this  order 
was  subscribed  by  other  members  of  the  corporation  last  fall.  A  list  of 
these  articles  was  also  forwarded  to  Dr.  Stennett. 

Your  kind  attention  to  the  interests  of  the  college,  and  the  proffer  of 
your  services,  were  sensibly  felt  by  the  corporation  at  their  annual  meeting 
this  present  month ;  and  it  is  in  obedience  to  their  commands,  imposed 
by  the  following  vote,  that  I  now  write  :  "  Voted,  That  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
President  Manning  and  Samuel  Stillman  be  a  committee  to  write  to  the 
Rev.  Hugh  Evans  of  Bristol,  and  other  gentlemen  in  England,  and  en 
close  the  catalogue  of  books  belonging  to  the  college,  and  endeavor  to 
procure  such  donations  in  books,  apparatus,  and  money  as  maybe  obtained 
from  thence ;  and  also  consult  Dr.  Stennett  on  the  expediency  of  sending 
a  person  to  England  to  solicit  donations  for  the  college." 

At  the  commencement  of  the  war  the  college  was  in  a  growing  state. 
The  number  of  students  was  about  forty,  and  there  was  a  good  Latin 
school  in  the  edifice.  In  1776  it  was  delivered  up,  or  rather  taken  pos- 


1784-1785.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  339 

session  of  by  the  troops  as  a  barrack  and  hospital,  and  continued  to  be 
occupied  by  the  militia,  Continental  and  French  troops,  and  seamen, 
until  June,  1782.  During  this  period  the  house  sustained  great  damages, 
for  which  we  have  received  no  compensation  yet,  nor  have  we  much 
prospect  of  it  in  future.  This  has  thrown  a  heavy  burden  on  the  corpo 
ration,  and  greatly  embarrassed  them  in  making  the  necessary  repairs, 
especially  as  our  fund  is  small.  This  we  have  made  many  efforts  to 
augment  by  collections,  etc.,  in  this  country,  but  to  so  little  purpose  that 
our  whole  fund  produces  but  about  sixty  pounds  sterling  per  annum. 
The  distressed  and  exhausted  state  of  the  country  by  war,  leaves  us  little 
room  soon  to  hope  for  much  from  this  quarter,  especially  as  money  is 
become  so  scarce  that  our  people  in  the  country,  although  possessed  of 
property,  cannot  command  sufficient  to  pay  their  taxes.  We  are  unwil 
ling  however  to  relinquish  our  design,  as  it  is  evident  that  the  institution 
has  already  greatly  contributed  to  the  perpetuity  of  our  denomination, 
and  begins  again  to  attract  the  public  attention.  The  number  of  students 
already  in  college,  and  of  those  we  expect  in  the  course  of  the  fall,  is  up 
wards  of  thirty.  In  teaching  I  have  the  assistance  of  one  tutor.  A  small 
Latin  school  is  kept  up  in  the  college.  Any  services  you  can  render  in 
endowing  it  will  be  most  acceptable  to  the  corporation. 

Last  week  I  attended  our  Association  at  Middleborough,  and  though 
several  of  the  remote  churches  did  not  send  messengers,  a  great  number 
of  Christian  friends  met  and  enjoyed  a  harmonious  and  agreeable  inter 
view.  Were  the  minutes  printed  I  would  enclose  them.  In  several  places 
there  is  a  happy  revival  of  religion,  especially  in  the  eastern  parts  of 
Massachusetts,  and  I  am  not  without  encouragement  under  my  poor  min 
istry.  The  doctrine  of  religious,  as  well  as  civil  liberty,  is  in  general 
better  understood  in  New  England  than  before  the  Revolution  notwith 
standing  in  places  the  persons  and  property  of  several  of  our  friends  have 
been  seized  on  for  ministerial  rates.  I  think  it  not  improbable  that  the 
rapid  increase  of  our  society  will  provoke  some  of  our  neighbors  to  give 
us  much  trouble ;  but  it  affords  encouragement  that  the  whole  body  are 
determined  to  maintain  their  rights  and  support  the  burden  which  may 
first  fall  upon  individuals.  Possibly  the  knowledge  of  this  resolution  en 
tered  into  at  our  last  annual  meeting  may  deter  our  oppressors.  If  not, 
may  the  great  Head  of  the  ckurch  furnish  us  with  grace  to  suffer  like 
Christians. 

I  have  often  heard  of  your  Education  Society,  and  of  its  great  utility 
in  training  up  young  men  for  the  ministry.  My  highly  respected  friend 


340  MANNING  AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

and  your  brother-in-law,  Thomas  Mullet,  Esq.,  gave  me  the  best  account 
of  it  which  I  have  yet  received  ;  still,  if  it  be  not  too  troublesome  I 
should  be  glad  to  receive  further  information  respecting  it,  and  I  will 
engage  to  repay  it  in  any  information  you  wish  for  in  my  power  to  give. 

In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Stennett,  last  fall,  I  gave  a  pretty  full  account  of  the 
state  of  religion  and  some  other  matters  in  this  new  world ;  it  was  in  an- 
swer  to  his  request  in  a  letter  by  Mr.  Mullett.  If  this  letter  reached  him, 
it  is  not  improbable  that  you  have  seen  it,  as  I  requested  him  to  commu 
nicate  the  contents  to  those  of  our  friends  who  might  wish  to  hear  from 
us.  On  the  opening  again  of  the  communication  between  both  countries, 
it  was  pleasing  to  find  our  brethren  in  England,  at  least  a  great  number 
df  them,  so  much  interested  in  our  welfare.  How  strong  a  proof  this  of 
the  reality  of  that  Christian  love  and  unity  in  the  spirit  which  is  the  gen 
uine  fruit  of  a  gracious  principle  !  The  same  temper  is  manifested  here 
towards  our  brethren  in  England.  There  is  the  same  joy  expressed  on 
hearing  that  Christ's  kingdom  is  advancing  witli  you  which  appeared  be 
fore  the  war.  And  why  should  it  not  be  so,  since  his  kingdom  is  but  one  1 
Dependence  or  independence  therefore  should  make  no  difference  amongst 
his  subjects,  who  consist  of  the  elect  out  of  different  people,  nations,  and 
languages.  The  privilege  of  a  correspondence  with  Mr.  Evans  I  shall 
highly  prize,  if  not  too  troublesome  to  him  ;  and  he  may  depend  on 
punctuality  on  the  part  of  his  unworthy  friend  and  brother, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

To  this  letter  Dr.  Evans  replies  :  — 

BRISTOL,  ENGLAND,  Jan.  26,  1785. 
DEAR  SIR: 

As  the  extensive  connections  in  which  my  brother  is  engaged  on  your 
wide-extended  continent  render  it  advisable  for  him  once  more  to  traverse 
the  mighty  waters,  and  to  pay  a  visit  to  his  American  friends,  in  which 
number  you  hold  a  distinguished  place,  I  gladly  embrace  the  opportunity 
of  accepting  your  correspondence,  and  replying  to  your  favor  of  the  13th 
of  September  last,  which  I  received  in  due  course  in  November.  I  shall 
be  truly  happy  to  do  anything  in  my  power  to  promote  the  prosperity  of 
the  infant  college  over  which  you  so  worthily  preside,  and  shall  omit  no 
opportunity  that  offers  of  testifying  my  regards  to  it.  Charity,  you  know, 
the  old  proverb  says,  should  begin  at  home,  but  I  think  it  should  not  end 
there,  but  flow  on  without  control  to  the  utmost  limits  of  possibility.  I 


1784-1785. 


BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  341 


had  so  little  time  with  Dr.  Stennett  when  I  was  in  London  that  we  had 
no  opportunity  of  entering  upon  the  affairs  of  your  college  as  I  wished  to 
have  done,  nor  could  I  have  a  sight  of  the  catalogue  of  the  books  lately 
purchased.    I  shall  nevertheless  pursue  the  design  of  obtaining  for  you 
such  of  our  duplicates  as  may  be  worthy  your  acceptance,  without  strictly 
adhering  to  what  you  already  have,  because  you  may  easily  exchange,  as 
you  observe,  such  as  may  prove  superfluous.     But  this  cannot  be  accom 
plished  till  August  next,  as  our  Society  will  have  no  meeting  till  that 
time.     As  to  a  person's  coming  over  here  to  solicit  benefactions,  I  rather 
fear  it  would  not  at  present  be  advisable ;  but  should  Dr.  Stennett  think 
otherwise,  and  a  proper  person  should  come,  especially  if  it  were  either 
yourself  or  Dr.  Stillman,  I  would  readily  use  my  utmost  efforts  to  pro 
mote  his  success.     Our  friends  in  general  are  well  enough  affected  to 
America,  but  many  of  them  have  very  little  idea  of  the  utility  of  academi 
cal  institutions,  though  it  is  evident  the  prejudices  arc  wearing  away.     I 
am  sorry  to  see,  as  well  by  the  account  Mr.  Mullctt  gives  me  as  by  your 
letter,  that  religion  is  at  so  low  an  ebb  amongst  you,  though  I  doubt  not 
the  time  will  come  when  it  will  again  run  and  be  glorified.     There  have 
been  on  your  continent,  in  years  past,  many  enemies  against  revivals,  and 
your  set  time  to  favor  Zion  will,  I  doubt  not,   yet  come  again.     Your 
church  is,  however,  I  hear,  flourishing,  as  also  Mr.  Stillman's  and  some 
others.   Blessed  be  God,  we  have  cause;  for  thankfulness  here.    One  of  our 
churches  in  this  city  lately  baptized  twenty,  and  probably  before  this  letter 
leaves  this  place  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  receiving  something  more 
than  an  equal  number  to  the  solemn  rite.     And  yet  still  \vc  have  much 
cause  to  complain  of  lukewarmness  and  formality.     Dr.  Stennett's  Dis 
courses  on  Domestic  Duties  you  have  probably  seen,  and  probably  Mr. 
Booth's  treatise  on  Baptism,  the  most  elaborate  and  decisive  perform 
ance  upon  that  subject  that  has  ever  yet  been  published,  or  probably  ever 
will  be.     I  enclose  you  one  of  our  last  associational  letters,  and  a  sermon 
lately  published  by  one  of  our  ministers  on  Walking  by  Eaith,  which  I 
beg  your  acceptance  of,  as  also  a  fifth  volume  of  Saurin  to  complete  the 
set  which  Mr.  Mullett  tells  me  he  presented  to  your  college,  and  which  he 
had  of  me  for  his  own  use  on  the  voyage.     Amongst  the  books  you  may 
expect  in  the  fall  are  the  Polyglott  General  Dictionary,  10  vols.,  including 
Bayle,  Biographical  Dictionary,  and  many  others  equally  valuable.     I 
shall  wish  your  direction  how  to  send  them.     I  will,  my  dear  sir,  detain 
you  no  longer  than  to  express  my  warmest  wishes  for  the  increasing  pros 
perity  of  the  church  and  college  over  which  you  preside,  the  revival  of  the 
29* 


342  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

interests  of  literature  and  true  religion  through  the  American  continent 
and  the  whole  world,  and  recommend  my  brother  to  your  continued 
friendship.  I  remain, 

Yours,  affectionately,  in  the  endearing  bonds  of  gospel  love, 

CALEB  EVANS. 


In  his  correspondence  with  Evans,  Dr.  Manning,  it  will 
be  observed,  speaks  of  being  "  oppressed  with  cares."  The 
number  and  variety  of  his  cares  may  be  inferred  from  the 
following  amusing  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Dr. 
Waterhouse,  which  we  find  quoted  in  the  memoir  by  Prof. 
Goddard  :  "  I  never  shall  forget  what  Dr.  Manning,  in 
great  good  humor,  told  me  were  among  his  *  trying  experi 
ences.'  He  told  me  that  his  salary  was  only  eighty  pounds 
per  annum,  and  that  for  this  pittance  he  performed  all  the 
duties  of  President  of  the  college ;  heard  two  classes  re 
cite  every  day ;  listened  to  complaints,  foreign  and  domes 
tic,  from  undergraduates  and  their  parents,  of  both  sexes, 
and  answered  them,  now  antl  then  by  letter ;  waited  gener 
ally  on  all  transient  visitors  into  college,  etc.  Nor  was 
this  all.  'I  made,'  said  Dr.  Manning,  'ray  own  garden, 
and  took  care  of  it;  repaired  my  dilapidated  walls;  went 
nearly  every  day  to  market ;  preached  twice  a  week,  and 
sometimes  oftener ;  attended,  by  solicitation,  the  funeral 
of  every  baby  that  died  in  Providence ;  visited  the  sick 
of  my  own  society,  and  not  unfrequently  the  sick  of  other 
societies ;  made  numerous  parochial  visits,  the  poorest 
people  exacting  the  longest,  and,  in  case  of  any  seeming 
neglect,  finding  fault  the  most.'  "  Amid  all  these  perplex 
ing  cares,  which  allowed  him  but  scanty  time  for  premed 
itating  his  sermons,  we  have  the  testimony  of  Dr.  Water- 
house  for  adding  that  "the  honorable  and  worthy  man 
never  complained." 


1784-1785.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


343 


REV.  ABRAHAM  BOOTH  TO  MANNING. 

LONDON,  June  30,  1784. 
DEAK  SIR  : 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  reflect  on  a  restoration  of  intercourse  between 
Great  Britain  and  America,  after  so  long  an  interruption  by  so  destructive 
a  war.  May  a  kind  Providence  yet  render  the  two  countries  mutually 
useful  to  each  other.  Having  a  favorable  opportunity,  I  here  present  you 
with  a  publication  or  two.  Shall  be  glad  to  hear  of  their  obtaining  your 
approbation. 

You  will  much  oblige  me  by  transmitting  the  enclosed  parcel  to  Mr. 
Stillman  ;  and  you  will  increase  the  obligation  by  favoring  me  with  a  few 
lines  your  first  opportunity. 

Taking  it  for  granted  that  Dr.  Stennett  will  give  you  some  account  of 
the  state  of  religion  amongst  us  in  the  country,  I  have  nothing  to  add 
but  my  ardent  prayers  that  a  kind  Providence  may  bless  your  confeder 
ated  provinces  with  peace  and  prosperity,  and  that  the  great  Head  of 
the  church  may  cause  pure  and  undented  religion  to  flourish  in  all  your 
academies,  your  churches,  and  through  all  your  extensive  country.  I 
conclude,  and  remain, 

Your  cordial  friend  and  unworthy  brother, 

A.  BOOTH. 

p.  g.  — Mr.  Benjamin  Wallin  died  upwards  of  two  years  ago. 

To  the  above  Manning  replies :  — 

PROVIDENCE,  Oct.  3,  1784. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

On  my  return  from  New  York,  four  days  ago,  I  was  so  happy  as  to 
find  a  line  from  Mr.  A.  Booth,  accompanied  with  the  publications  men 
tioned.  My  present  hurry  has  permitted  me  to  examine  but  little  more 
than  the  titlepages,  but  from  my  predilection  for  the  author  of  the  Reign 
of  Grace,  I  am  persuaded  any  publication  of  his  will  be  highly  accepta 
ble.  My  next  shall  inform  you  of  my  opinion  of  the  publications  on 
perusal.  In  the  mean  time  I  beg  you  to  accept  my  hearty  thanks  for  the 
donation.  By  the  ship  Hope,  belonging  to  this  town,  and  by  the  bearer, 
Dr.  Solomon  Drowne,  who  goes  as  a  passenger  in  her,  I  embrace  the 
opportunity  of  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  yours.  Mr.  Drowne  is  a  son 
of  the  college,  a  gentleman  of  remarkable  modesty,  who,  having  passed 
through  the  best  medical  schools  in  this  country,  now  visits  Europe  with 


344  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

views  of  further  improvement  in  the  lino  of  his  profession.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  corporation,  and  of  unblemished  character,  on  whose 
information  you  may  safely  rely  respecting  the  college,  or  any  other  mat 
ters.  As  such  I  beg  leave  to  introduce  him  to  your  notice,  and  refer  you 
to  him  for  particulars. 

The  restoration  of  public  tranquillity  and  a  free  intercourse  between 
the  two  countries,  after  so  long  an  interruption,  is  matter  of  thanksgiving 
to  God.  Few,  perhaps,  in  either  country,  more  sincerely  regretted  this 
interruption  than  your  unworthy  friend  ;  to  which  no  consideration  could 
ever  reconcile  him  except  that  of  making  a  part  of  the  plan  of  His  ad 
ministration  who  is  infinite  in  wisdom.  Conciliatory  measures,  I  doubt 
not,  will  render  both  countries  reciprocally  useful. 

I  have  transmitted  the  letter  and  parcel  to  Mr.  Stillman  by  a  safe  hand. 
I  have  not  yet  been  so  happy  as  to  receive  a  line  from  Dr.  Stennett, 
which  I  am  daily  expecting,  with  the  wished-for  information.  Enclosed 
I  send  you  a  copy  of  our  last  Association  minutes.  This  will  give  you  a 
general  view  of  the  state  of  a  number  of  our  churches.  Since  that  time 
I  have  received  authentic  accounts  of  a  most  glorious  work  of  God,  in 
what  is  called  the  State  of  Vermont,  formerly  the  Hampshire  grants,  on 
the  west  side  of  Connecticut  river.  It  extends  over  well-neigh  half  the 
peopled  part  of  that  territory,  and  appears  increasing.  The  eastern  part 
of  Massachusetts  continues  still  to  be  remarkably  visited  in  the  same  way, 
and  the  prospect  brightens  at  New  York  and  in  many  parts  of  the  Western 
Suites.  Some  drops  have  also  fallen  on  Providence,  Newport,  and 
Swanzey,  with  several  other  places.  My  attention,  however,  is  so  much 
called  for  at  the  college,  that  I  cannot  visit,  as  I  wish  to  do,  and  rejoice 
together  with  them.  A  long  letter  to  Dr.  Stennett,  last  fall,  which  you 
have  probably  seen,  gave  some  general  accounts  of  the  state  of  religion 
amongst  us  since  the  commencement  of  the  war.  I  shall  not  therefore 
repeat  what  I  then  wrote,  —  only  observe  that  two  of  the  leaders  in  what 
they  called  the  New  Dispensation,  but  others  the  Shaking  Quakers,  have, 
notwithstanding  their  boasted  immortality,  lately  died ;  one  of  whom 
was,  as  they  termed  her,  the  elect  lady.  The  adherents,  I  am  told,  to 
that  fanatical  system,  are  falling  off  and  renouncing  it.  Their  folly  in 
deed  has  been  made  abundantly  manifest.  It  is  the  general  opinion  of. 
serious  people  that  these  shakings  presage  something  glorious  to  the 
church  of  God.  May  the  Lord  grant  an  accomplishment  of  their  wishes. 

The  mournful  news  of  Mr.  Wallin's  death  reached  us  more  than  a 


1784-1785.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  345 

year  ago.     When  he  died  a  truly  great  man  in  our  Israel  tell ;  but  I 
doubt  not  it  was  his  gain. 

Your  ardent  wishes  for  our  national  prosperity,  but  more  especially  for 
that  of  the  churches  of  Christ  in  this  new  world,  are  peculiarly  acceptable. 
Permit  me  to  repay  them  by  wishes  as  ardent  for  Great  Britain  and  Ire 
land,  those  lands  of  our  forefathers'  nativity,  and  for  the  advancement  of 
the  glorious  kingdom  of  our  common  Lord  throughout  the  same,  and 
indeed  throughout  the  whole  world. 

A  line  from  Mr.  Booth  will  always  be  very  acceptable  to  his  sincere 
friend  and  unworthy  brother, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

TO    THE    REV.    JOHN    RYLAND,    JE. 

PROVIDENCE,  Nov.  12,  1784. 
EEVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

I  beg  leave  to  embrace  this  opportunity  to  confess  my  fault  in  not  for 
warding  your  diploma  before  now.  By  some  unaccountable  neglect  it 
was  mislaid  till  a  few  days  since. 

You  will  forgive  the  execution,  as  the  writing  is  but  indifferent,  nor 
could  we  at  that  time  procure  it  done  otherwise.  It  is,  however,  a  small 
testimony  of  our  regard  for  the  merit  of  Mr.  Ryland,  and  as  such  we  beg 
you  to  accept  it. 

The  long  and  agreeable  correspondence  I  was  honored  with  by  your 
father  (to  whom  I  have  written  since  the  war)  leads  me  to  wish  for  the 
continuance  of  it.  But  if  his  advanced  age  or  engagements  forbid  it,  I 
wish  for  it  from  his  son,  and,  as  I  am  told,  successor  in  the  school  at 
Northampton.  I  heartily  wish  you  success  in  the  important  employment 
of  educating  youth,  and  in  preaching  the  gospel  of  our  glorious  Saviour. 

We  have  seen  days  of  sorrow  during  the  late  calamitous  war,  but 
blessed  be  God  that  I  have  lived  to  see  a  period  to  it,  and  a  free  inter 
course  again  opened  between  us  and  Great  Britain.  Some  agreeable 
letters  have  already  reached  me  from  several  friends  in  England,  more  of 
which  I  hope  for  soon  ;  also  more  particular  accounts  of  the  state  of  re 
ligion  in  general  and  your  society  in  particular.  I  long  to  read  some 
of  those  old-fashioned  letters  from  Rev.  John  Ryland  in  this  way.  They 
will  however  be  very  acceptable  from  his  son. 

The  college  is  reviving.  Thirty  students  have  already  entered,  and 
more  are  expected.  We  have  in  part  repaired  the  damages  of  the  house, 


346  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

which  were  very  great,  by  the  wanton  waste  of  the  soldiery.  I  have  the 
assistance  of  one  tutor.  We  need  more  help,  but  the  low  state  of  our 
funds  will  not  support  another,  and  the  scarcity  of  cash  at  present  in 
this  country  forbids  our  hopes  of  augmenting  our  little  stock.  We  were 
so  fortunate,  in  the  wreck  of  public  credit  during  the  war,  as  to  preserve 
our  little  fund  undiminished.  In  the  eastern  part  of  Massachusetts  and 
in  the  State  of  Vermont  there  is  a  most  glorious  work  of  God,  which 
has  continued  for  some  time  and  still  increases.  Please  to  present  my 
best  regards  to  your  honored  father,  and  believe  me,  with  every  sentiment 
of  esteem,  dear  sir, 

Your  unworthy  brother, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

TO  THE  KEY.  DE.  EIPPON. 

PROVIDENCE,  Nov.  12,  1784. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

This  will  be  handed  you  by  my  friend,  Dr.  Solomon  Drowne,  of  Provi 
dence,  a  son  of  the  college,  a  gentleman  of  great  modesty,  who  visits  your 
city  with  views  of  further  medical  improvement.  I  beg  leave  to  recom 
mend  him  to  you  as  a  man  of  good  character,  and  a  Fellow  of  the  college. 
Through  him  you  may  receive  what  information  you  wish  respecting  the 
college,  etc.  Together  with  this  you  will  receive  the  diploma  I  men 
tioned  in  my  last.  We  beg  you  to  accept  it  as  a  testimony  of  our  respect 
for  the  character  and  merit  of  Mr.  Rippon.  I  must  apologize  for  the 
writing.  It  was  done  in  a  hurry,  and  by  a  young  hand. 

The  Lord's  work  still  goes  on  gloriously  in  the  eastern  parts  of  Massa 
chusetts  and  Vermont.  By  recent  advice  from  these  parts  we  are  assured 
that  whole  congregations,  almost,  of  Congregationalists,  embrace  the  Bap 
tist  principles  ;  and  in  one  instance  their  minister  was  baptized  with  his 
people.  Several  useful  ministers  are  raised  up  amongst  them  lately  in 
that  wilderness.  This  looks  somewhat  like  the  coming  of  our  Redeemer's 
kingdom.  With  me  you  say  amen !  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly. 
In  great  haste,  I  am,  dear  sir, 

Your  unworthy  brother  and  fellow-believer  in  Jesus, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

Mr.  Drowne,  whom  Manning  here  introduces  to  Dr.  Rip 
pon,  graduated  from  the  college  in  the  year  1773.  Upon  his 


1784-1785.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  347 

return  from  Europe,  he  practised  medicine  in  Providence  for 
a  while, then  removed  to  Ohio,  thence  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
finally  settled  in  the  town  of  Foster,  R.  I.,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  days  in  professional  and  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  in  the  cultivation  of  his  taste  for  botany  and 
for  elegant  letters.  In  1811  he  was  appointed  Professor 
of  Materia  Medica  and  Botany  in  Brown  University,  and 
for  two  or  three  seasons  he  delivered  lectures  to  a  class  of 
medical  students.  He  also  lectured  on  botany  to  the  un 
dergraduates  of  the  University,  and  to  a  private  class  of 
citizens.  He  died  in  1834,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
one  years.  A  fine  portrait  of  him  is  among  the  collection 
of  portraits  in  Rhode  Island  Hall.  Mr.  Drowne  was  a  Fel 
low  of  the  University  from  1783  until  his  death,  a  period 
of  more  than  fifty-one  years. 


PROVIDENCE,  Dec.  23,  1784. 
To  THE  HONORABLE  DAVID  HOWELL, 

MEMBER  or  CONGRESS  IN  PHILADELPHIA  : 

SIR  :  —  Before  you  receive  this,  you  will  doubtless  be  advised  of  the 
melancholy  situation  of  our  common  friend,  Mr.  Joseph  Brown,  who, 
upwards  of  four  weeks  since,  received  a  violent  shock  of  an  apoplexy  and 
numb  palsy  combined,  which  for  some  time  caused  his  physicians  and 
friends  to  despair  of  his  life.  But  though  he  is  much  recovered,  as  to  the 
use  of  his  limbs  and  his  speech,  it  forbids,  in  a  great  measure,  our  indulg 
ing  a  hope  of  his  restoration  to  former  usefulness.  Joey,  daughter  of 
Nicholas  Brown,  still  survives,  but  is  in  the  last  stage  of  her  disorder. 
Mrs.  Thurston,  wife  of  the  elder,  died  of  the  small  pox  last  Friday.  He 
and  his  family  have  it  by  inoculation,  and  are  in  a  hopeful  way  to  recover. 
I  left  Newport  last  Monday  morning.  Your  family  are  in  usual  health, 
for  aught  I  have  heard  to  the  contrary  since  my  return.  Mr.  Wilkinson 
speaks  favorably  of  Jeremiah's  proficiency  in  and  attention  to  Greek. 

I  have  nothing  new  to  advise  you  respecting  the  college.  Our  number 
is  above  thirty.  We  have  heard  that  you  very  soon  adjourned  to  Phila 
delphia,  after  your  meeting  at  Trenton.  I  suppose  you  find  better  living 


348  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

and  more  diversion  in  the  city  ;  to  which,  if  members  of  Congress  are 
not  entitled,  I  beg  leave  to  know  who  are  ?  I  hope  you  will  be  good  na- 
tured,  unanimous,  and  attentive  to  the  public  business,  conducting  it  to 
the  great  honor  and  advantage  of  the  United  States. 

What  think  you  of  an  application  to  Congress  for  the  rents  and  dam 
ages  of  the  college  1  Will  it  do  this  session  or  not  ?  I  fear  it  will  become 
an  old  story,  and  that  we,  in  the  issue,  shall  lose  the  whole,  if  we  defer 
it  longer.  What  we  ask  is  not  only  just,  but  greatly  wanted  at  present.  I 
beg  you  to  feel  round  amongst  the  members,  and  form  a  judgment  of  the 
probability  of  success  in  case  of  an  application.  Should  things  appear 
promising,  I  will  forward  the  papers,  and  indeed  will  come  myself,  Deo 
vo/ente,  in  the  spring,  if  you  think  it  can  be  of  any  use. 

You  remember  I  mentioned  to  you  the  case  of  our  farm  in  the  Jerseys, 
and  our  thoughts  of  selling  it  for  public  securities.  What  is  your  opinion  ? 
Will  Congress,  this  session,  provide  for  paying  the  interest  on  final-settle 
ment  notes  equally  with  that  of  loan-office  certificates,  or  not  ?  From  the 
face  of  things  at  present  with  you,  is  it  your  opinion  that  public  securities 
will  appreciate  soon  ?  If  so,  which  species  of  them  are  the  most  likely  to 
do  so  ?  If  Congress  takes  up  this  subject,  how  long  do  you  expect  it  will 
be  first  ?  I  wish  a  resolution  of  these  queries  when  your  leisure  will  per 
mit.  Are  you  likely  to  open  a  land-office  soon,  to  dispose  of  any  of  the 
Western  territory  ?  What  concessions  have  the  Indians  made  to  the 
commissioners  sent  out  to  treat  witli  them  ?  Will  they  sell  any  part  of 
their  lands  to  the  States  ?  or  do  they  oppose  our  extending  our  settle 
ments  ?  What  will  be  the  terms,  if  Congress  opens  an  office,  on  which 
they  will  dispose  of  their  lands  1  It  is  the  ardent  wish  here  that  some 
thing  may  speedily  be  done  with  our  new  acquisitions  towards  raising 
our  public  credit,  and  alleviating  the  burdens  of  taxation,  under  which 
the  people  at  present  groan.  And  if  the  way  is  paved  by  the  commission 
ers,  I  see  no  reason  for  losing  time,  as  money  daily  grows  scarcer.  This 
must  affect  the  price  of  them  greatly,  at  a  future  distant  period,  unless 
some  expedient  can  be  hit  on  to  replenish  the  States  with  that  useful  arti 
cle.  Will  not  Congress  establish  a  mint  for  the  Union?  I  think  this 
measure  would  be  attended  Avith  advantage.  While  we  neglect  it,  do  we 
not,  apparently,  betray  a  diffidence  or  distrust  of  the  continuance  of  our  in 
dependence  1  A  national  coin  would  serve  to  strengthen  the  sinews  of  gov 
ernment,  in  my  opinion,  and  might  be  managed  so  as  to  secure  a  medium 
in  the  country,  I  should  think,  which  is  certainly  a  great  national  object. 
But  I  shall  begin  to  smile  at  my  scribbling  politics,  and  I  shall  provoke 


1784-1785.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  319 

your  risibilities  no  further ;  concluding  by  inquiring  how  you  found  friends 
in  the  Jerseys,  requesting  a  line  from  you  at  your  first  leisure,  and,  joined 
with  Mrs.  Manning,  presenting  my  best  compliments.  With  sentiments 
of  esteem,  I  am,  respectfully, 

Yours,  etc., 

JAMES  MANNING. 

TO    THE   REV.   THOMAS   USTICK,   PHILADELPHIA. 

PROVIDENCE,  March  4,  1785. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

Unwilling  to  saddle  you  with  postage  to  the  amount  of  three  or  four 
shillings,  as  I  had  no  other  medium  of  conveyance,  I  have  now  before 
me  yours  of  Dec.  24,  and  January,  to  which  I  have  given  you  no  an 
swer.  I  presume,  from  not  mentioning  in  your  last  the  indisposition  of 
your  family,  that  your  children  are  recovered.  This,  at  least,  I  hope  is 
the  case.  In  addition  to  the  procedure  of  the  Pedobaptists,  mentioned  in 
my  last,  I  now  have  to  inform  you  that  some  time  in  this  winter  they  took 
three  of  Mr.  Thomas  Green's  people  for  minister's  rates,  and  put  them 
into  Cambridge  jail.  You  recollect  that  he  lives  in  that  town.  Our 
friends  have  prosecuted  them,  and  the  trial  comes  on  there  the  9th  inst. 
Perhaps  a  degree  of  this  opposition  to  the  truth  of  the  gospel  is  necessary  to 
engage  a  suitable  attention  to  its  importance.  It  is  no  argument  in  favor 
of  the  disposition  of  those  who  make  it,  but  it  may  be  a  means  of  great 
good  to  those  against  whom  it  is  made. 

Some  revivals  in  various  parts  of  New  England  are  encouraging  amidst 
these  trials.  Providence  in  a  small  degree  is  blessed  with  some  quicken- 
ings  amongst  Christians,  and  a  few  instances  of  late  awakenings.  I  hope 
you  may  yet  rejoice  on  this  account  in  Pennsylvania. 

The  state  of  the  college  is  as  promising  as  we  could  reasonably  expect. 
Our  number  is  thirty-one,  and  more  are  expected  to  enter  this  spring.  Mr. 
John  Brown  is  about  finishing  the  third  story,  which  we  expect  to  want 
in  the  course  of  this  year,  if  tho^se  whom  we  expect  should  come.  I  be 
lieve  our  students  are  as  orderly,  industrious,  and  as  good  scholars  as  at 
any  one  period  of  the  institution.  One  tutor  is  all  the  assistance  which  I 
have  at  present,  Mr.  Bobbins,  from  Connecticut,  who  gives  good  satisfac 
tion.  Probably  I  shall  be  able  to  answer  your  request  relative  to  Mr. 
Brown  this  spring  before  I  visit  the  Jerseys,  which  I  expect  to  do  in  May, 
without  some  unforeseen  cause  should  prevent  it.  The  corporation  at  that 
30 


350  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

time  had  resolved  on  an  application  to  Congress  for  reparation  of  the 
damage  done  the  college  during  its  appropriation  to  public  uses  through 
the  war,  and  have  resolved  to  send  me  on  that  errand.  In  this  I  shall 
want  every  assistance  from  the  friends  of  the  institution,  by  letters  to  the 
members,  etc.  If  your  acquaintance  with  any  of  them  will  enable  you  to 
aid  me,  I  know  I  am  sure  of  that  aid. 

Mr.  Joseph  Brown's  indisposition  is  indeed  a  very  heavy  stroke  to  us. 
The  college  and  the  church  particularly  feel  it.  There  is  little  probabil 
ity  of  his  ever  being  restored  to  his  former  usefulness,  though  he  again 
goes  a  little  abroad.  I  have  attended  to  your  request  in  respect  to  the 
minutes  you  enclosed.  I  am  sorry  to  hear  of  the  acrimony  among  you 
respecting  the  officers  of  government.  I  think  it  very  imprudent  in  the 
Presbyterians,  as  well  as  injurious,  to  wish  to  engross  these  to  themselves. 
But  that  profession  has  been  of  old  impeached  of  a  propensity  this  way, 
and,  as  St.  Paul  somewhere  says,  I  partly  believe  it. 

As  I  am  thoroughly  conscious  of  my  want  of  qualifications  for  the 
grade  you  mention,  so  I  do  not  wish  it.  It  is  perhaps,  at  best,  but  an 
empty  sound,  and  rendered,  in  too  many  instances,  still  more  so  by  the  char 
acters  of  those  on  whom  it  has  been  bestowed,  for  a  place  in  whose  cata 
logue  I  have  no  ambition.1  I  thank  you,  however,  for  your  kind  atten 
tion.  You  have  my  hearty  thanks  for  your  expressions  of  friendship  to 
the  college.  You  reason  rightly  with  the  Baptists  respecting  this  matter, 
who,  one  would  think,  have  sufficient  proofs  of  the  propriety  of  it,  from 
the  struggles  amongst  themselves.  But  we  are,  and  ever  have  been,  in 
these  respects,  a  wrong-headed  people.  I  am  happy  to  have  a  better 
opinion  of  their  hearts.  I  hope  Mr.  Rogers's  lecturing  maybe  of  use,  and 
that  you  may  both  labor  with  great  success,  and,  as  father  Aldcn  says, 
with  good  agreement. 

I  am  sensible  that  your  attention  to  a  school  must  greatly  interfere 
with  your  discharge  of  the  duty  of  a  pastor,  but  I  hope  this  may  not  be 
without  its  good  effect  to  counterbalance  that  loss,  since  there  appears  to 
be  a  needs  be  for  it.  In  your  letter  to  Mr.  Pitman  you  mentioned  Win 
chester,  in  possession  of  his  fifth  wife  and  a  red  coat.  Please,  in  your 

1  President  Manning  here  refers,  doubtless,  to  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor 
in  Divinity,  which  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  as  appears  from  their  trien 
nial  catalogue,  conferred  upon  him  during  the  present  year.  Our  readers  will 
not  fail  to  observe,  that  while  Manning  seems  to  have  been  indifferent  in  regard 
to  his  own  honors  and  emoluments,  he  was  careful  in  conferring  the  honors  of 
Rhode  Island  College  upon  the  worthy  who  desired  them. 


1781-1785.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  351 

next,  to  give  us  the  particulars  of  that  eccentric  genius,  his  adherents, 
success,  etc.,  etc. 

Mrs.  Manning  has  been  restored  to  her  health  for  some  time,  except  a 
cold,  which  at  present  incommodes  her.  Joey  Brown  died  in  the  fore 
part  of  winter,  —  as  ripe  for  heaven,  by  every  evidence  which  could  be 
wished  for,  as  almost  any  person  I  ever  saw.  Many  have  dropped  off 
this  winter  in  this  town  and  Newport  by  chronic  complaints,  but  at  pres 
ent  good  health  is  more  prevalent. 

With  best  respects  to  Mrs.  Us  tick  and  friends,  in  which  Mrs.  Manning 
joins,  and  with  sentiments  of  esteem,  I  am,  as  ever, 

Yours,  etc., 

JAMES  MANNING. 

PROVIDENCE,  March  21,  1785. 
To  THE  HONORABLE  DAVID  HOWELL, 

IN  CONGRESS  AT  NEW  YORK  : 

gIR  :_And  the  snow  three  and  four  feet  deep  !  what  do  you  think  of 
that  ?     How  do  you  think  Mrs.  Ho  well  fares  this  inclement,  protracted 
winter  ?  —  not  to  mention  the  cows,  old  Sorrel,  etc.,  in  regard  to  hay. 
But  I  beg  pardon  for  calling  your  attention  from  that  higher  region  where 
you  are  conversant,  in  settling  the  nation,  to  these  sublunary  things.     To 
be  serious,  we  have  not  only  had  a  hard  winter,  but  the  spring,  thus  far, 
is  much  of  the  same  tenor.     We  talk  here  much  of  removing  to  the  tem 
perate  climate  of  Kentucky  to  avoid  this  snow  and  frost,  which  throw  us 
into  a  torpid  state  so  great  a  part  of  the  year.     I  saw  your  papa  and  fam 
ily  at  meeting  yesterday ;  all  well.     Your  friends  in  general  are  well.     I 
have  enclosed  Mr.  Carter's  paper  of  the  12th  instant,  containing  the  law 
made  at  the  last  session  of  the  General  Assembly  in  relation  to  the  import, 
in  Mr.  Van.  Horn's  letter,  which  I  authorize  you  to  open  that  you  may 
see  it,  provided  you  have  not  yet  received  it.    But  I  beg  you  to  reendorse 
it  and  direct  it  to  Mr.  Van  Horn,  to  be  left  at  Mr.  Ustick's.     The  college 
remains  in  statu  quo.  item,  the  church,  congregation,  politics  of  the  town, 
etc.,  for  aught  I  know.     I  thank  you  for  the  newspapers  you  sent  me.     I 
think  the  address  to  the  York  Assembly  labored.     Will  it  compass  their 
ends  ?     It  is  diverting  enough  to  hear  Doctors  Ewing  and  Rush  endeavor 
ing  to  expose  each  other  for  their  latent  zeal  for  the  Kirk,  and  exhibiting 
to  the  world  the  naked  truth.     If,  by  their  quarrel,  an  old  proverb  should  be 
verified,  it  might  afford  matter  of  rejoicing  to  many.     But  they  are  mem 
bers  of  the  militant  church,  and  so  I  leave  them  to  box  it  out.     I  told  you 


352 


MANNING  AND  CHAP.  VIII. 


in  my  last  that  the  corporation  had  resolved  to  send  me  forward  in  the 
spring  to  Congress,  as  you  desired.  But  as  you  did  not  give  much  en 
couragement  of  success  from  the  application,  I  beg  leave  to  inquire  what 
you  think  of  the  probability  of  our  procuring  a  grant  of  some  part  of  the 
Western  territory,  instead  of  a  grant  of  money,  as  I  perceive,  by  vour  letter 
to  Mr.  Brown,  you  expect  a  land-office  to  be  opened  in  the  spring  1  This 
would  not  augment  the  public  debt,  and  would  in  time  be  productive  for 
the  college.  Rather  than  get  nothing,  I  should  be  glad  to  accept  of  this. 
This,  however,  is  only  a  thought  of  my  own,  and  suggested  for  your  con 
sideration,  on  which  I  should  be  glad  of  your  opinion,  in  your  next,  that 
I  may  take  the  sense  of  the  corporation  on  this  subject  before  I  set  out. 

Pray,  how  go  final-settlement  notes  and  other  continental  securities  in 
New  York  at  present  ?  You  need  not  have  been  quite  so  short  in  your 
last,  for  I  make  a  point  of  writing  whenever  I  can  find  anything  to  say ; 
and  would  you  wish,  after  reading  this,  to  have  me  write  again  and  say 
nothing  ?  If  so,  I  can  spill  ink  and  spoil  paper  as  fast  as  most  of  my 
neighbors. 

Pray,  what  is  likely  to  be  the  result  of  the  wranglings  of  the  Dutch  and 
the  Emperor  ?  "Will  there  be  a  general  war,  and  if  so  will  it  reach  us  ? 
You  stand  on  the  watchtower,  and  can  tell  us,  we  presume,  what  may 
be  depended  on.  Now  there  is  a  claim  entered  for  a  very  long  letter,  by 
next  post,  by,  sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

To  Thomas  Mackaness,  Esq.,  of  London,  to  whom,  it 
seems,  Dr.  Manning  had  shown  kind  attentions  while  a 
captive  at  Providence  during  the  war,  he  thus  writes :  — 

PROVIDENCE,  July  10, 1785. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

Yours  of  April  27,  1785,  with  the  box  of  books,  containing  five  vol 
umes  quarto  of  Witsncr's  Works,  in  Latin,  came  safe  by  the  hand  of 
Mr.  Fry.  When  they  arrived  I  was  absent  at  New  York,  or  I  should 
have  embraced  an  earlier  opportunity  of  presenting  my  thanks  to  Mr. 
Mackaness  for  the  donation,  and  the  kind  attention  which  you  have  been 
pleased  to  pay  to  me.  Your  letter  last  winter,  by  your  son-in-law,  came 
safe  to  hand,  but  I  had  not  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him.  I  took  the  ear- 


1784-1785.  BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  353 

liest  opportunity  of  forwarding  you  a  letter,  by  the  care  of  our  common 
friend  Deacon  Mason,  of  Boston,  in  hopes  it  might  have  reached  Mr. 
Harvey's  hands  before  he  sailed.  I  am  sorry  you  did  not  receive  it.  A 
visit  from  you  to  your  Providence  friends  was  greatly  wished  for,  and 
indeed  expected.  Messrs.  Jos.  Rogers  and  Geo.  Benson  are  well.  The 
former  is  mourning  the  loss  of  a  dear  and  amiable  wife.  He  feels  that 
the  hand  of  God  has  touched  him.  He  could  sympathize  with  you  in 
calling  to  remembrance  the  tender  and  afflictive  scenes  through  which  you 
have  passed.  I  am  glad  to  find  that  you  think,  however  stormy  the  path, 
that  you  have  been  led  the  right  way  towards  the  city  of  habitation.  I 
sincerely  wish  your  afflictions  maybe  sanctified,  so  as  to  work  for  you  "  a 
far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory."  I  hope  you  may  be  so 
happy  as  to  settle  your  children  to  your  mind ;  but  I  should  not  think 
they  had  fixed  upon  the  most  agreeable  place.  Yet  contentment  and  in 
dustry  will,  anywhere,  answer  the  purposes  of  this  life,  which  is,  at  best, 
but  a  short  passage  to  a  long  eternity. 

The  kind  mention  which  you  say  you  have  heard  made  of  me  by  your 
honorable  friend  is  pleasingly  flattering,  as,  from  bis  universal  character, 
there  are  few  men  on  earth  of  whose  approbation  I  should  be  more  am 
bitious.  The  little  services,  if  they  may  be  termed  services,  in  my  power 
to  render  you  when  here  a  captive,  gave  me,  I  am  confident,  a  much 
higher  degree  of  pleasure  than  they  could  possibly  afford  you.  That  "  it 
is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive  "  I  have  found  to  bo  true  as  often 
as  God  has  given  me  a  heart  to  make  the  experiment,  and  I  hope  he  will 
give  me  more  of  that  disposition.  "Whether  I  shall  ever  be  gratified  in 
my  wishes  to  see  the  place  of  your  nativity  or  not,  I  have  yet  to  learn. 
At  several  different  times  I  thought  the  point  nearly  decided ;  but  I  am 
yet  on  the  Hill  at  Providence,  overwhelmed  with  cares.  And  though  I 
think  my  services  of  little  importance  to  the  church  and  college,  my  breth 
ren  and  masters,  it  seems,  think  my  presence  here  of  some  importance  to 
both.  I  have  the  satisfaction,  however,  to  see  my  flock,  both  in  the  church 
and  college,  again  collected,  beyond  what  they  have  been  since  the  war 
until  lately.  I  have  little  to  say  of  my  success  in  the  ministry.  Yester 
day  I  baptized  three.  The  season  was  solemn.  The  audience  is  both 
large  and  attentive,  and  I  hope  among  them  are  some  inquiring  souls. 
One  of  the  members  of  college  has  lately,  I  hope,  been  brought  to  know 
the  Lord.  Our  number  of  students  is  about  thirty-five,  with  a  prospect 
of  increase.  But  as  we  are  destitute  of  an  adequate  fund,  this  does  but 
increase  my  labors,  as  I  am  confined  to  constant  teaching. 
30* 


354  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VIIL 

The  Lord  is  gracious  to  many  parts  of  this  land,  in  of  late  pouring  out 
his  Spirit  upon  the  people.  Mr.  Gano  has  a  rich  blessing  in  New  York. 
The  eastern  part  of  New  Jersey  is  also  visited.  In  Vermont  there  is  a 
day  of  God's  power,  and  so  also  in  several  of  the  interior  parts  of  New 
England.  May  that  glorious  kingdom  come  over  all  the  earth  !  I  long 
to  hail  the  approach  of  the  King  of  Zion,  and  I  partly  believe  I  shall  live 
to  see  the  accomplishment  of  at  least  some  of  the  glorious  things  spoken 
of  the  city  of  God. 

By  recent  accounts  from  Kentucky,  five  hundred  miles  down  the  Ohio 
below  Fort  Pitt,  I  learn  that  God  has  done  and  is  still  doing  wonders  in 
that  wilderness.  Seven  or  eight  Baptist  churches  are  here  settled,  and  a 
number  of  faithful  but  very  unlettered  ministers  are  engaged  in  the  har 
vest.  To  spread  the  knowledge  of  the  Redeemer  (who  came  preaching 
in  the  wilderness  of  Judea)  in  the  wilderness,  has  long  been  with  me  a 
desirable  object.  And  with  this  view  I  have  conceived  a  design,  if  pos 
sible,  of  furnishing  their  untutored  minds  with  books.  My  plan  is  to 
establish  a  library  for  the  Baptist  Association  (to  be  established  there  this 
year)  of  such  books  as  are  best  adapted  to  their  situation,  to  qualify  their 
ministers  more  thoroughly  for  their  ministerial  work,  and  to  assist  those 
young  men  of  promising  abilities  for  the  ministry  with  useful  knowledge 
before  they  enter  on  the  work.  With  this  view  I  am  about  to  make  col 
lections  of  books  in  America,  and  I  recommend  the  same  no  my  corres 
pondents  in  England,  and  request  them  to  send  them  forward  to  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Ustick,  minister  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Philadelphia,  with  a 
line  to  him  informing  him  of  the  donors  and  the  design.  He  will  take 
charge  of  the  same,  till  they  can  be  safely  forwarded  to  Kentucky,  for 
the  uses  mentioned.  Any  services  you  can  render  in  so  good  a  cause 
will  be  kindly  accepted.  They  are  almost  wholly,  I  am  told,  destitute  of 
all  kinds  of  books.  I  propose  there  shall  be  a  book  kept  by  the  associa 
tion,  in  which  shall  be  entered  the  donors'  names,  and  what  they  contrib 
uted.  You  have  my  best  wishes,  in  which  Mrs.  Manning  joins. 

Your  unworthy  friend, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

P.  S.  —  Should  I  not  have  the  pleasure  to  see  you,  please  to  present 
my  Christian  salutation  to  Mr.  Thornton  when  you  return. 


1784-1785.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  355 

TO   THE   EEV.    DK.    EVANS. 

PROVIDENCE,  July  21,  1785. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

Yours  of  26th  and  31st  of  January  came  to  hand  last  month  while  I 
was  in  New  York,  the  perusal  of  which  gave  me  great  pleasure,  especially 
that  paragraph  which  mentions  the  additions  to  the  churches  in  Bristol. 
May  you  be  so  happy  as  to  see  the  good  work  increase.  Things,  in  ref 
erence  to  religion,  remain  much  as  when  I  wrote  last,  except  a  greater 
attention  paid  to  public  worship.  Lord's  Day  before  last  I  baptized  three 
persons.  In  several  parts  of  New  England  the  Lord  is  evidently  at  work. 
In  Vermont  there  is  a  glorious  shower  of  divine  influence,  as  also  in  the 
city  of  New  York  and  the  eastern  part  of  the  Jerseys.  My  Brother  Gano 
is  greatly  blessed,  upwards  of  forty  having  of  late  been  added  to  his 
church,  among  whom  are  two  of  his  sons  and  one  of  his  daughters.  When 
I  heard  last  from  there  the  work  was  increasing.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  a 
short  interview  with  Mr.  Mullett  in  New  York,  and  he  twice  or  three 
times  gave  us  the  pleasure  of  his  company,  though  but  a  short  time,  as 
he  passed  to  and  from  Boston.  He  was  kind  enough  to  engage  to  trans 
mit  my  letters  safely  to  England.  Your  kind  proffers  of  service  to  my 
self  or  Mr.  Stillman  in  soliciting  for  the  college,  should  either  of  us  be 
sent,  are  very  acceptable,  but  we  have  yet  had  no  advice  on  that  subject 
from  Dr.  Stennett.  Your  account  of  the  ideas  of  the  Baptists  with  you, 
respecting  literary  institutions,  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  American 
Baptists.  We  shall  gladly  receive  the  books  you  mention,  and  any  oth 
ers  which  you  can  spare,  or  procure  for  us.  As  there  is  no  direct  com 
munication  between  Bristol  and  Providence,  shall  wish  you  to  send  them 
via  New  York,  to  the  care  of  my  brother-in-law,  John  Stites,  merchant, 
at  the  corner  of  Queen  and  Chapel  Streets  in  that  city,  with  a  line  advis 
ing  him  where  to  send  them.  I  shall  inform  him  of  this  advice  to  you, 
and  request  him  to  forward  them  immediately  to  me.  Dr.  Stennett's 
Discourses  on  Domestic  Duties  I  have,  and  highly  esteem  them.  I  wish 
every  family  were  possessed  of  the  book.  Mr.  Booth's  treatise  on  Bap 
tism,  and  his  tract  on  Church  Communion,  he  was  kind  enough  to  present 
to  me  last  year.  Upon  reading,  I  recommended  it  in  almost  the  same 
words  in  which  you  mention  it ;  alleging  that  I  thought  it  would  super 
sede  the  necessity  of  any  future  publications  on  the  subject.  I  wish  it 
could  be  circulated  throughout  this  continent,  and  am  determined  to  use 
my  endeavors  for  that  purpose.  I  shall  write  him  on  this  subject  by  this 


356  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

opportunity.  The  Association  Letters,  the  sermon  on  Walking  by  Faith, 
and  the  fifth  volume  of  Saurin's  Sermons,  all  came  safe  to  hand,  for  which 
I  beg  leave  to  present  to  you  my  hearty  thanks,  and  wish,  in  my  turn,  it 
were  in  my  power  to  afford  you  equal  pleasure  by  transmitting  some  valua 
ble  American  publications,  but  this  is  a  barren  soil.  The  embarrassments 
of  trade,  especially  in  the  New  England  States,  open  before  us  a  gloomy 
prospect,  producing  an  amazing  stagnation  of  business,  which  must 
continue  till  new  channels  are  opened,  or  the  restrictions  on  the  American 
trade  are  taken  off  in  the  ports  of  Britain  and  France.  Our  merchants 
at  present  sink  money  by  all  the  trade  they  drive.  This  renders  it  next  to 
impossible  to  make  remittances  to  Britain,  as  bills  are  eight  percent,  above 
par.  Were  it  otherwise  I  should  try  to  send  over  for  some  books  on  my 
own  account ;  especially  for  some  of  the  publications  of  our  ministers,  in 
order  to  circulate  them  in  this  country ;  and  for  the  Encyclopaedia  Britan- 
nica,  a  book  we  expected  in  our  catalogue,  but  it  did  not  come.  From 
the  accounts  we  have  had  of  it  I  presume  it  must  be  a  work  of  the  great 
est  utility. 

The  college  continues  to  increase  gradually  in  the  number  of  students, 
which  at  present  is  thirty-seven,  one  of  whom,  I  have  reason  to  believe, 
has  been  recently  converted.  I  have  long  wished  for  an  account  of  your 
Education  Society, — the  foundation,  who  are  admitted  and  Avith  Avhat 
qualifications,  the  course  of  studies  pursued,  manner  of  teaching,  time  re 
quired  in  completing  the  course,  etc.,  etc.,  —  but  I  fear  I  should  be  trouble 
some  to  ask  it  of  you.  Some  information  on  these  subjects  I  received 
from  my  dear  friend  Mr.  Mullett,  but  he  referred  me  to  Mr.  Evans,  and, 
if  I  rightly  recollect,  mentioned  a  book  published  from  whence  I  could 
draw  this  information.  If  giving  this  information  should  be  troublesome, 
I  do  not  wish  it,  as  from  your  situation  you  cannot  surely  be  in  want  of 
employment.  One  thing  more  I  wish  to  mention,  which  is,  that  the  new 
settlement  of  Kentucky,  five  hundred  miles  down  the  Ohio  river  below 
Fort  Pitt,  was  first  settled  by  Baptists.  It  now  contains  more  than  thirty 
thousand  souls.  There  are  seven  Baptist  churches  and  eight  ministers, 
who  propose  forming  an  association  this  year.  They  inform  me  that  they 
are  extremely  destitute  of  books,  and  the  ministers  are  illiterate,  but  wish 
for  the  means  of  information.  I  have  proposed  to  my  friends  the  estab 
lishing  of  a  library  of  some  useful  books  for  the  benefit  of  the  association, 
that  the  ministers  and  those  who  are  candidates  for  the  ministry  may 
have  the  use  of  it ;  and  of  it  may  I  say  the  foundation  of  a  seat  of  educa 
tion.  To  this  end  I  have  written  to  my  friends  in  different  parts  to 


1784-1785.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  3">7 

collect  what  books  they  can,  and  send  them  to  the  care  of  Rev.  Thomas 
Ustick,  minister  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Philadelphia,  to  be  ready  to  be 
sent  forward  by  the  first  good  conveyance.  Could  your  ministering 
brethren  in  England  be  induced  to  send  their  works,  they  would  compose 
an  excellent  library  for  this  purpose.  I  find  by  a  publication  of  a  Pres 
byterian,  under  the  title  of  a  History  of  Kentucky,  that  his  denomination 
mean  to  monopolize  and  gain  an  establishment  there  in  a  literary  way. 
We  have  in  contemplation  the  putting  in  for  a  share.  I  have  paid  some 
attention  to  this  subject,  and  don't  mean  to  lose  sight  of  it.  Your  assist 
ance  and  influence  in  favor  of  this  design  will  be  the  most  acceptable. 
Chanty  should  not,  indeed,  end  at  home. 

"With  sentiments  of  esteem,  etc., 

JAMES  MANNING. 

P.  S.  —  It  is  proposed  to  have  a  book  in  the  intended  library,  contain 
ing  the  names  of  the  donors,  and  the  donations  made  by  them,  that  pos 
terity' may  know  what  attention  the  present  generation  paid  to  the  dissem 
inating  useful  knowledge  in  the  wilderness.  Whether  the  design  succeeds 
or  not,  I  shall  have  the  satisfaction  of  attempting  to  do  good ;  and  if  I  am 
not  greatly  deceived,  a  little  laid  out  in  this  way  will  turn  to  good  account. 
I  mean  to  send  them,  if  possible,  soon,  a  person  of  our  denomination  to 
open  a  seminary  amongst  them  ;  and,  indeed,  wore  I  not  confined  to  the 
college,  should  spend,  God  willing,  the  next  winter  there  myself.  Bibles  and 
religious  books  which  arc  printed  to  be  distributed  gratis  amongst  the  poor, 
would  be  well  bestowed  there,  for  the  people  are  religiously  disposed.  The 
fullest  confidence  may  be  placed  in  Mr,  Ustick,  that  everything  sent  to 
his  care  will  be  forwarded  to  them.  He  is  a  man  of  principle.  As  the 
term  of  human  life  is  so  short,  and  the  sphere  of  our  activity  so  contracted, 
it  behooves  us  to  exert  ourselves  to  fill  it  up,  to  the  utmost,  with  acts  of 
public  utility,  especially  in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  Redeemer. 

Dr.  Manning,  as  all  his  writings  show,  considered  piety 
as  the  first  and  indispensable  requisite  in  a  minister.  No 
degree  of  genius  or  of  mental  cultivation  was  allowed  by 
him  to  compensate  for  the  want  of  a  heart  renewed  by 
the  Holy  Spirit,  and  moved  to  undertake  the  care  of  souls 
by  the  constraining  love  of  Christ.  He  believed,  never- 


358  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

theless,  in  an  educated  ministry.  How  earnestly  he  la 
bored  to  secure  this  for  the  churches  more  especially  of 
his  own  denomination,  the  College  of  Rhode  Island  and 
the  Warren  Association  are  perpetual  witnesses.  In  these 
letters  to  Thomas  Mackaness  and  Dr.  Evans  we  have  an 
illustration  of  his  philanthropic  efforts  to  enlighten  the 
illiterate  Baptist  ministers  of  Kentucky,  and  to  provide 
instruction  for  the  rising  generation  in  that  then  remote 
wilderness  ;  and  this,  too,  when  "  overwhelmed,"  as  he 
expresses  it,  with  his  own  cares  and  duties.  For  a  fuller 
development  of  his  plans  with  reference  to  Kentucky, 
the  reader  is  referred  to  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Rippon,  and  dated  July  22.  Three  years  later  we 
find  Manning,  according  to  Benedict,  corresponding  with 
the  Baptists  in  Virginia,  and  encouraging  them,  through 
their  established  organizations,  to  found  a  seminary  of 
learning  for  the  special  benefit  of  their  rapidly-increasing 
numbers  in  that  section  of  the  country. 

During  the  year  1784  Dr.  Manning,  it  appears,  addressed 
a  letter  to  the  Hon.  Granville  Sharp,  LL.D.,  of  London, 
a  zealous  member  of  the  Established  Church,  but  liberal 
to  Protestant  Dissenters  of  all  classes,  and  noted  for  his 
opposition  to  the  American  war.  He  was  also  distin 
guished  for  his  opposition  to  negro  slavery,  and  for  the 
zeal  with  which  he  engaged  in  various  patriotic  and  phil 
anthropic  movements.  His  publications,  which  were  nu 
merous,  he  presented  to  the  college  library,  with  a  set  of 
the  works  of  his  grandfather,  Dr.  John  Sharp,  Archbishop 
of  York.  He  subsequently  sent  other  valuable  presents 
to  the  library.  The  following  letter  was  written  in  re 
ply  to  Manning :  — 


1784-1785.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  359 

OLD  JEWRY,  LONDON,  21st -Feb.,  1785. 
REVEREND  SIR  : 

On  the  22d  ult.  I  received  your  obliging  letter  of  the  12th  October, 
1784,  by  the  hands  of  Mr.  Drowne,  who  seems  highly  worthy  of  the  ex 
cellent  character  you  gave  me  of  him. 

My  best  thanks  are  due  to  you  for  the  satisfactory  intelligence  of  the 
safe  arrival  of  the  books  which  I  sent  for  the  library  of  the  college  in 
Providence,  and  also  for  your  full  and  explicit  account  of  that  very  use 
ful  institution. 

Some  additions  have  been  made,  I  believe,  to  my  tracts  on  Congrega 
tional  Courts  since  I  sent  the  copies  of  them  by  Mr.  Watson  ;  and  there 
fore  I  have  now  sent  another  copy  for  the  college  library,  and  one  for 
yourself;  though  indeed  the  tract  is  still  incomplete  by  the  want  of  an 
index  ;  for  I  have  not  had  leisure  to  revise  and  correct  the  index  that 
has  been  made  for  it  by  a  person  whom  I  employed  for  that  purpose 
some  time  ago. 

Two  of  the  additional  tracts  relate  to  the  laying  out  of  settlements  on  un 
cultivated  lands,  —  a  subject  of  very  important  consideration  to  America ; 
for  if  care  is  not  taken  in  these  early  timcsi  before  land  becomes  scarce, 
to  reserve  a  due  proportion  of  cottage-land,  and  common-land  around 
every  town,  as  well  as  around  new  settlements,  for  the  accommodation 
of  poor  industrious  families,  and  also  small  portions  of  land  for  the  main 
tenance  of  schools  and  other  public  establishments,  it  will  be  very  difficult, 
a  few  years  hence,  to  procure  land  for  such  purposes. 

A  well-regulated  agrarian  law  would  also  be  exceedingly  beneficial  to 
America  to  prevent  monopolies  of  land  ;  for  when  large  tracts  of  land 
are  engrossed  in  a  few  hands,  it  necessarily  occasions  not  only  internal 
weakness,  and  an  inability  to  defend  a  country  against  foreign  invaders, 
but  it  also  inevitably  reduces  to  slavery  the  industrious  laborers  who  cul 
tivate  the  enormous  tracts  of  the  haughty  overgrown  landholders  ;  for 
this  is  the  very  foundation  of  the  detestable  aristocratical  oppression  and 
monarchial  despotism  in  Russia,  Poland,  Bohemia,  Germany,  France, 
and  all  other  countries  under  the  unmerciful  dominion  of  the  two  beasts 
of  tyranny,  which  are  now  preparing  themselves  for  a  speedy  retribution 
of  the  divine  vengeance  ! 

A  mediocrity  in  the  proportion  of  landed  possessions  in  the  hands  of 
freeholders,  together  with  an  ample  provision  of  cottage-lands  for  the  la 
boring  poor,  and  common-lands  for  all  other  housekeepers,  will  certainly 
be  most  beneficial  for  every  community ;  and  such  mediocrity  of  landed 


360  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

possessions  may  be  gradually  obtained,  without  injury  to  the  rights  of 
the  present  possessors,  by  restraining  inheritances  to  an  equal  distribu 
tion  in  gavel-kind  amongst  all  the  sons  of  landholders  ;  or,  if  the  first 
born  is  to  be  allowed  a  preference,  it  should  be  only  to  the  amount  of  a 
certain  limited  number  of  acres  (as  many  as  shall  be  deemed  a  reasonable 
competence  for  an  independent  gentleman),  and  the  overplus  to  be  divided 
amongst  the  nearest  of  kin,  whose  possessions  are  below  the  said  limited 
competence  of  landed  inheritance,  unless  the  remainder  of  the  land  be 
otherwise  legally  disposed  of,  by  the  will  and  testament  of  the  late  pos 
sessor. 

The  inheritances  of  heiresses  should  also  be  subject  to  the  same  limita 
tions  ;  so  that  if  the  husband  has  the  legal  competence  of  land  already 
in  his  own  right,  the  mother's  estate  should  be  reserved  for  the  eldest 
son ;  but  to  be  held  by  the  latter,  when  of  age,  no  longer  than  during  his 
father's  life;  with  an  option,  however,  to  give  up  either  his  father's  or 
mother's  inheritance  to  the  younger  children.  By  this  means  the  over 
grown  possessions  would  be  soon  reduced  to  reasonable  competences, 
and  the  number  of  substantial,  independent  landholders  would  be  greatly 
increased,  for  the  general  security  of  the  country,  wherever  such  regula 
tions  shall  take  place.  This  would  set  bounds  to  the  insatiable  thirst  of 
realizing,  which  prompts  some  thrifty  men  to  "  lay  house  to  house  and 
field  to  field ;  "  for  they  would  be  compelled,  by  a  just  agrarian  law,  to 
find  some  more  beneficial  mode  of  employing  their  superfluous  wealth, 
and  the  most  avaricious  of  them  would  undoubtedly  be  induced  to  em 
ploy  it  in  trade,  which  would  greatly  promote  the  extension  of  commerce, 
and  consequently  the  welfare  of  the  whole  community.  I  have  enclosed 
a  copy  of  a  letter  which  I  wrote  to  a  friend  of  the  Abbe  de  Mably,  to 
show  tha't  the  defects  which  he  observed  in  some  of  the  American  con 
stitutions  would  be  effectually  remedied  by  the  ancient  system  of  Frank- 
pledge  (as  described  in  my  last  work),  which  was  manifestly  the  polity 
of  the  commonwealth  of  Israel  whilst  under  the  theocracy ;  for  the  same 
arrangement  of  the  people  into  exact  numerical  divisions  of  tithings, 
hundreds,  and  thousands,  were  then  ordained  as  a  part  of  their  political 
constitutions,  though  it  was  even  at  that  time  too  frequently  neglected  ; 
whereby  the  people  fell  into  confusion  and  anarchy,  and  "  every  man  did 
what  seemed  right  in  his  own  eyes."  But  this  was  not  occasioned  by 
any  defect  in  the  constitution  itself,  but  merely  by  the  neglect  of  it ;  for  I 
know  of  no  other  method  but  this,  if  duly  maintained  by  annual  renewal, 
whereby  liberty,  equal  right,  and  national  security  can  be  so  effectually 
supported. 


1784-1785. 


BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  361 


Probably  what  I  have  written  concerning  the  popular  right  of  electing 
bishops  (see  tract  No.  5)  may  seem  superfluous,  as  well  to  yourself  as 
to  some  other  learned  professors  of  divinity,  who  have  not  been  educated 
in  an  Episcopal  Church ;  nevertheless,  it  is  a  subject  worthy  your  consid 
eration,  especially  as  it  will  be  found  that  the  most  important  objections 
that  have  usually  been  made  by  Protestant  Dissenters  to  the  order  of 
bishops,  would  be  effectually  removed  by  the  restoration  of  popular  right 
in  the  election  of  them ;  and  that  all  danger  of  tumults  in  such  elections 
would  be  obviated  by  electing  two  of  the  most  eminent  presbyters,  of  un 
impeachable  morality  and  virtue,  whose  appointment  to  the  dignity 
should  be  decided  by  lot,  after  solemn  prayer  by  the  whole  congregation, 
according  to  the  apostolic  example  related  in  Acts  i.  15-26.  I  remain, 
.with  due  respect  and  esteem,  reverend  sir, 

Your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

GRANVILLE  SHARP. 

To  this  letter  Manning  replies  :  — 

PROVIDENCE,  STATE  OP  RHODE  ISLAND,  July  26,  1785. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

In  May  last,  just  before  I  left  Providence  for  New  York  and  Philadel 
phia,  I  received  by  the  ship  London  your  most  acceptable  letters  of  Feb. 
21,  22,  as  also  the  copy  of  your  letter  to  a  friend  of  the  Abbe'  de  Mably, 
dated  Dec.  30,  1784,  and  your  letter  of  March  4,  1785,  together  with  the 
two  copies  of  your  last  work  on  Congregational  Courts.  As  the  Hope 
had  a  long  passage,  I  received  the  letters  and  books  by  the  London  first, 
but  the  duplicates  by  the  Hope  came  safe.  I  have  complied  and  shall 
comply  literally  with  your  desire  of  making  them  public.  Your  letter  re 
lating  to  ecclesiastical  matters,  after  perusal,  I  communicated  to  my  min 
istering  brethren  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  my  vicinity,  who  took  a  copy 
of  it.  I  then  took  it  to  New  York  and  communicated  it  to  some  of  the 
members  of  Congress  ;  lent  it  to  Dr.  Provost,  the  rector,  who  desired  lib 
erty  to  copy  it,  which  I  granted  him,  withal  requesting  him  to  communi 
cate  it  to  his  brethren.  He  proposed  doing  so,  and  laying  it  before  the 
convention  of  the  Episcopal  clergy  of  Virginia  and  New  York  inclusive, 
to  meet  in  September  next  at  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  Two  weeks  since, 
I  received  from  General  Knox,  via  Boston,  Archbishop  Sharp's  Sermons 
and  Works,  in  seven  volumes,  with  two  volumes  of  Sharp  on  Congrega 
tional  Courts.  The  General  informed  me  that  by  some  accident  they  had 
31 


362  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

been  wet.  This  had  marred  the  beauty  of  the  binding,  but  had  not  in 
jured  the  print.  No  letter  accompanied  them,  but  I  presume  they  were 
designed  for  the  library,  where  I  shall  place  them.  The  kind  attention  of 
Mr.  Sharp  to  this  college  has  laid  me  and  the  friends  of  it  under  great 
obligations,  which  I  beg  leave  most  heartily  to  acknowledge,  by  returning 
him,  as  well  in  behalf  of  the  college  as  myself,  our  united  thanks.  Shall 
comply  with  your  wishes  respecting  Bishop  Wilson's  works,  whenever 
they  may  arrive.  Your  treatise  on  Frank-pledge,  with  that  on  Congrega 
tional  Courts,  I  handed  to  the  Hon.  Messrs.  Howell  and  Ellery,  mem 
bers  of  Congress  for  this  State ;  but  they  had  fixed  upon  the  plan  of  lay 
ing  out  the  back  lands  before  my  arrival.  As  I  was  pleased  with  your 
ideas  on  that  subject,  I  strongly  recommended  to  them  an  examination, 
and  an  adoption  of  your  plan  where  it  would  be  an  improvement  upon 
theirs.  I  mean  by  this  opportunity  to  furnish  you  with  their  publication 
on  this  subject,  if  I  can  procure  it.  I  thank  you  for  the  interest  you  feel 
in  the  welfare  and  future  happiness  of  America,  and  for  your  generous 
and  benevolent  exertions  to  promote  the  same.  These  exertions  I  doubt 
not  Avill  meet  a  due  reward  from  the  supreme  Judge  and  Rewarder  of 
merit.  Your  publications  are  highly  approved  by  the  gentlemen  of  my 
acquaintance.  To  point  out  an  inadequate  mode  of  defending  the  rights 
without  laying  a  foundation  for  subverting  the  liberties  of  mankind,  is,  in 
my  view,  the  great  desideratum  of  government,  and  I  have  yet  seen  noth 
ing  which  promises  fairer  to  accomplish  this  than  your  scheme,  a  part  of 
which,  at  least,  I  expect  will  be  adopted  by  the  United  States. 

I  concur  with  you  in  sentiment  exactly  concerning  the  importance  of  a 
mediocrity  in  the  proportion  of  landed  possessions  in  the  hands  of  free 
holders.  It  is  the  real  strength  of  a  nation,  and  most  agreeable  to  the 
dictates  of  reason  and  the  rights  of  man.  In  New  England  a  system  was 
adopted  when  the  country  Avas  first  settled,  Avhich  remains  in  full  vigor  to 
this  day ;  so  that  it  is  hard  to  find  many  here  in  the  extremes  of  poverty 
or  wealth.  It  was  this  spirit  which,  in  the  last  war,  captivated  British 
armies,  or  repelled  them  from  their  borders,  as  it  is  calculated  to  dis 
seminate  knowledge  and  the  love  of  liberty  throughout  the  whole  commu 
nity.  Many  if  not  most  of  the  States  have  enacted  laws  by  which  the  es 
tates  of  those  who  die  intestate  shall  be  equally  divided  amongst  all  the 
surviving  children,  both  male  and  female,  or  at  most  give  the  oldest  son 
but  two  shares.  In  consequence  of  this  many  people  make  no  other  will, 
but  appoint  executors  to  execute  that  which  the  law  has  made  for  them. 
This  is  a  guard  against  the  danger  arising  from  overgrown  estates,  as 


1781-178-3.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  363 

many  who  devise  them  by  will  or  otherwise  conform,  nearly,  to  what  the 
law  points  out  as  equitble.  This  renders  an  agrarian  law  in  a  measure 
unnecessary. 

For  your  friendship  and  assistance  afforded  Mr.  Drowne,  I  thank  you, 
and  shall  be  happy,  in  my  turn,  to  testify  my  readiness  to  repay  the  kind 
ness.  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  the  college  at  Providence 
daily  increases  in  reputation  and  number  of  students.  Some  valuable 
though  small  additions  have  been  lately  made  to  our  library,  which  con 
sists  now  of  upwards  of  two  thousand  volumes.  The  prospects  from  this 
country  of  augmenting  our  funds,  so  as  to  establish  an  adequate  number 
of  professors,  from  the  decay  of  trade  and  the  scarcity  of  money  are  at 
present  rather  gloomy ;  but  we  hope  some  generous  benefactors  may  yet 
arise  and  obviate  this  difficulty. 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  there  is  an  evident  alteration  for 
the  better  in  the  morals  of  the  people  throughout  this  country.  Religion 
too  begins  again  to  raise  her  drooping  head ;  and  what  affords  me  peculiar 
satisfaction  is,  that  a  spirit  of  moderation  prevails  beyond  what  has  been 
known  since  the  first  settlement  of  New  England.  The  various  denomi 
nations  of  Christians  are  cultivating  a  spirit  of  brotherly  love  by  an  un 
reserved  intercourse  with  each  other.  Among  the  many  mischievous  con 
sequences  resulting  from  the  late  war,  we  are  happy  to  find  that  the 
prevalence  of  a  spirit  of  toleration,  and  a  more  general  knowledge  of  the 
doctrine  of  religious  liberty,  in  some  measure  counterbalance  them. 

That  you  may  long  live  to  promote  the  great  interests  of  mankind  by 
your  shining  abilities  and  indefatigable  labors,  and  have  the  happiness  to 
sec  the  good  effects  of  them  on  society,  and  at  last  be  admitted  to  receive 
an  ample  reward  of  all  your  labors  in  the  regions  of  bliss,  is  the  ardent 
wish  of,  dear  sir, 

Your  sincere  friend  and  very  humble  servant, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

TO    THE   KEY.    DK.    RIPPON. 

PROVIDENCE,  July  22,  1785. 
MY  DEAR  BROTHER : 

Yours  of  Dec.  24,  1784,  came  to  hand  last  month,  together  with  the 
pamphlet  occasioned  by  the  death  of  that  eminent  man,  Dr.  Gifford,  for 
which  please  accept  my  best  thanks.  That  of  Feb.  23,  1785,  came  by  the 
Hope,  together  with  the  acceptable  presents  of  Deacon  Shepherd  and  Rev. 


364  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

John  Ryland,  for  which,  in  the  name  of  the  college,  please  to  present 
them  my  most  cordial  thanks.  This  should  have  been  done  by  the  cor 
poration,  had  a  meeting  of  that  body  been  held  since.  I  am  greatly 
pleased,  as  well  as  instructed,  by  both  those  valuable  works,  though  my 
attention  has  been  of  late  so  much  taken  up  in  other  ways  that  I  can 
command  but  little  time  for  reading.  With  you  I  regret  your  want  of 
timely  information  of  the  catalogue  of  books  sent  for  the  college  ;  and  I 
make  no  doubt  of  your  being  both  able  and  willing  to  have  made  a  con 
siderable  saving  Tor  the  college.  Had  I  been  then  as  well  acquainted 
with  your  character  as  I  have  been  since,  I  should  have  addressed  you  on 
that  subject.  "We  did  then,  as  we  thought,  the  best  we  could  do  ;  but  my 
expectations  were  disappointed,  I  confess,  in  the  price  of  the  books. 
Should  we  ever  be  so  fortunate  as  to  have  more  money  to  lay  out  in  that 
way,  which  I  sec  but  little  prospect  of,  we  shall  take  the  Hbcrty  to  solicit  Mr. 
Rippon's  assistance.  I  am  pleased  to  hear  that  Dr.  Gill's  Exposition  is 
to  be  completed.  Many  of  them  arc  now  wanted  ;  but  the  difficulty  of 
making  remittances  from  New  England,  and  the  inconceivable  scarcity  of 
cash,  have  almost  put  an  end  to  business.  New  channels  of  trade  will 
probably  soon  open,  but  not,  I  fear,  before  many  of  our  mercantile  people 
are  ruined.  I  rejoice  to  hear  that  the  cause  of  religion  is  on  the  advance 
in  your  churches,  and  that  our  denomination  increases  in  some  of  the 
counties.  Mr.  Evans  gives  me  agreeable  information  from  Bristol  of  con 
siderable  additions  to  two  of  our  churches  in  the  city. 

And  though  stupidity  greatly  prevails  in  general,  we  still  have  some 
agreeable  revivals  in  different  parts  on  this  continent.  The  wilderness  of 
Vermont  still  continues  to  blossom  as  the  rose.  New  York  and  the  east 
ern  part  of  New  Jersey  are  blessed  with  a  joyful  harvest.  My  Brother 
Gano  appears  to  be  the  principal  instrument  whom  God  honors  in  that 
city,  so  lately  filled  with  violence.  Three  of  his  own  children  are  in  the 
number  of  converts ;  and  if  I  augur  rightly,  one  of  his  sons,  a  doctor,1 


i  The  Rev.  Stephen  Gano,  M.D.  He  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  Dec. 
25,  1762,  being  the  third  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Gano.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he 
was  placed  under  the  care  of  his  maternal  uncle,  Dr.  Stites,  to  be  educated  for 
the  medical  profession.  Having  made  honorable  proficiency  in  his  studies,  he 
received  an  appointment  as  surgeon  in  the  army,  and  entered  the  public  service. 
He  was  at  this  time  nineteen  years  old.  His  mother,  who  had  been  the  principal 
agent  in  procuring  for  him  the  appointment,  having  buckled  on  his  regimentals, 
said  to  him  as  they  parted,  concealing  her  tears,  "My  son,  may  God  preserve 
your  life  and  your  patriotism;  —  the  one  may  be  sacrificed  iu  retaking  and  pre- 


1784-1785. 


BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  365 


must  preach  Christ  to  others.  Upwards  of  forty  have  been  lately  added, 
and  the  work,  by  late  information,  is  on  the  increase.  Grace  reigns  also 
in  several  places  in  New  England.  Some  drops  have,  in  mercy,  fallen  on 
Providence.  Three  I  baptized  Lord's  Day  sennight.  Public  worship  is 
better  attended  than  since  the  war,  in  our  meeting.  I  should  be  happy  to 
receive  a  letter  from  Mr.  Rippon  on  spiritual  things,  but  business,  at 
proper  times,  calls  for  our  attention.  I  thank  you  for  your  kind  attention 
to  Mr.  Drowne,  as  he  is  modest  to  an  excess.  And  since  you  cannot  com 
mand,  or  at  least  make  use  of  the  wings  of  a  dove  to  visit  America,  what 
think  you  of  substituting  in  their  place  those  of  a  ship  ?  I  would  engage 
that  you  should  have  the  fervent  prayers  of  many  of  your  American  friends 
for  a  safe  and  speedy  passage,  and  a  most  kindly  welcome  to  these  western 
shores  ;  and  ivithal  I  have  prepared  you  a  lodging,  which  (as  a  minister  once 
said  of  his  bed),  if  homely,  is  a  sincere  one.  I  am  confident  no  house  in 
your  capital  would  please  me  better  than  Mr.  Rippon's,  should  I  ever  be 
permitted  to  visit  your  country ;  nor  should  any  be  preferred  to  it  as  a 
home ;  but  I  almost  give  over  the  expectations  of  seeing  my  English 


serving  the  home  of  your  childhood ;  but  let  me  never  hear  that  you  have  for 
feited  the  birthright  of  a  freeman."  He  continued  in  the  service  two  years,  and 
then  retired  to  settle  as  a  physician  in  Tappan,  now  Orangetown,  New  York. 
Soon  after  his  conversion  he  was  impressed  with  the  idea  that  it  was  his  duty  to 
preach  the  gospel.  He  was  accordingly  ordained  in  the  Cold  Street  Church, 
New  York,  his  father  and  President  Manning  participating  in  the  exercises  of 
the  occasion.  This  was  on  the  2d  of  August,  1786.  He  at  once  engaged  in  mis 
sionary  labors  on  the  Hudson,  and  wherever  he  went  his  preaching  awakened 
a  deep  interest.  He  was  successively  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Ilillsdale 
and  at  Hudson.  In  1792  he  received  an  invitation  to  become  the  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  church  in  Providence,  which  invitation  he  accepted.  Some  members  of 
the  society,  it  is  understood,  at  first  objected  to  his  being  the  pastor  of  a  church 
whose  relations  with  the  college  were  so  intimate,  on  the  ground  that  he  had 
never  himself  received  a  collegiate  education.  These  objections,  however,  were 
soon  removed,  and  the  most  cordial  and  friendly  relations  were  established  be 
tween  himself  and  his  people.  Here  he  continued  during  the  remainder  of  his 
useful  life.  He  died  on  the  18th  of  August,  1828,  in  the  sixty -seventh  year  of  his 
age,  greatly  beloved  and  respected  throughout  the  entire  community.  The  event 
was  immediately  made  known  by  the  tolling  of  the  city  bells,  and  the  children 
who  were  assembled  in  the  several  schools  were  dismissed,  out  of  respect  to  his 
memory.  His  funeral  was  attended  by  an  immense  concourse  of  people,  and  a 
sermon  appropriate  to  the  occasion  was  preached  by  the  Kev.  Dr.  Sharp,  of 
Boston. 
During  his  pastorate  of  thirty-eight  years  Dr.  Gano  was  permitted  to  witness 

81* 


3G6  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VIII 

brethren  till  I  meet  them  above,  the  prospect  of  which  often  gives  me 
pleasure.  There  I  hope  to  see  and  converse  with  the  whole  family  at 
home,  without  the  aid  or  necessity  of  pen  and  ink.  In  the  mean  time  I  feel 
my  obligations  to  diligence  in  the  business  of  my  holy  calling,  that  I  may 
be  found  ready. 

The  college  still  increases,  though  gradually.  Our  number  is  thirty- 
seven  ;  one  of  whom,  I  hope,  has  been  called  by  grace.  Last  week  we 
buried  our  venerable  chancellor,  Stephen  Hopkins,  Esq.,  LL.D  ,  for  many 
years  Governor  of  the  Colony,  and  one  of  those  distinguished  worthies 
who  composed  the  First  Congress.  He  was  one  of  the  greatest  men  our 
country  has  reared.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  corporation  he  was  chosen 
chancellor,  and  continued  in  the  office  till  his  death.  In  him  the  college 
has  lost  a  most  valuable  member  and  officer,  and  I  myself  a  particular 
friend.  Mr.  Van  Horn  has  obtained  something  for  the  college  by  his  so 
licitations  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  in  which  business  he  is  still 
employed.  I  carried  in  May  last  an  application  to  Congress,  by  a  memo 
rial,  etc.,  for  compensation  for  the  rents  and  damages  done  the  college  by 


many  signal  manifestations  of  the  divine  power  and  presence.  In  one  year  he 
baptized  one  hundred  and  forty-seven  converts,  swelling  the  number  of  church 
communicants  to  six  hundred  and  forty-eight.  As  an  evidence  of  his  general 
usefulness,  it  may  be  mentioned,  that  for  nineteen  consecutive  years  he  pre 
sided  as  moderator  at  the  meetings  of  the  Warren  Association.  "  Be  had,"  says 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Jackson,  "  a  line,  commanding  figure,  being  more  than  six  feet  in 
stature,  and  every  way  well  proportioned.  His  voice  was  full,  sonorous,  and 
altogether  agreeable.  His  manner  was  perfectly  artless  and  unstudied.  He  had 
great  command  of  language,  and  could  speak  with  fluency  and  appropriateness, 
with  little  or  no  premeditation.  His  discourses  were  eminently  experimental." 
Dr.  Gano  was  married  on  the  25th  of  October,  1782,  to  Cornelia,  daughter  of 
Capt.  Josiah  Vavasor,  of  the  city  of  New  York.  By  her  he  had  two  sons  and 
two  daughters.  On  the  4th  of  August,  1789,  he  was  a  second  time  married  to 
Polly,  daughter  of  Col.  Tallmadge,  of  New  York.  By  this  marriage  there  were 
also  four  children,  three  daughters  and  one  son.  His  third  wife  was  Mary, 
daughter  of  Hon.  Joseph  Brown,  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Eliza  B. 
Rogers.  In  1801  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Joanna  Latting,  of  Ilillsdale,  N.  Y., 
who  survived  him  many  years.  Of  his  six  daughters,  four  have  married  clergy 
men  ;  namely,  the  Rev.  John  Ilolroyd,  the  Rev.  Peter  Ludlow,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ben 
edict,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jackson.  Dr.  Gano  was  an  honored  and  useful  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  having  been  initiated  in  Mount  Vernon  Lodge,  Prov 
idence,  on  the  10th  of  July,  1801.  Twenty-five  years  afterwards  (Jan.  5, 1826),  he, 
in  company  with  the  late  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Griswold,  took  the  Knight  Tem 
plar's  degree  in  the  Providence  Encampment. 


1784-1785.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  3G7 

the  troops  during  the  war,  but  have  as  yet  got  nothing  done.  The  pa- 
pers  were  read  and  a  committee  appointed  while  I  was  there,  before  whom 
we  had  a  hearing,  and  their  promise  of  a  speedy  report ;  but  I  fear  little  is 
to  be  expected  from  that  quarter. 

In  the  new  settlement  of  Kentucky,  five  hundred  miles  down  the  Ohio 
below  Fort  Pitt,  I  am  credibly  informed  that  there  are  upwards  of  thirty 
thousand  inhabitants,  amongst  whom  are  seven  Baptist  churches  and  eight 
ministers ;  that  the  people  incline  much  to  be  of  our  denomination  ;  that 
the  ministers  are  not  only  very  illiterate,  but  that  there  is  not  a  person  of 
our  persuasion  capable  of  teaching  even  the  languages  amongst  them ; 
and  that  they  have  a  desire  to  enjoy  the  means  of  education,  more  es 
pecially  as  the  Presbyterians,  though  greatly  inferior  in  numbers,  and 
later  on  the  ground,  appear  to  be  maneuvering  to  avail  themselves  of 
advantages  from  being  first  in  promoting  literature  in  that  quarter.     I 
conjectured  this  from  reading  a  pamphlet,  written  by  one  of  that  society, 
giving  an  account  of  the  first  settlement  of  that  country.     Accordingly 
I  wrote  my  thoughts  on  the  subject  to  our  Western  ministers,  withal  re 
questing  them  to  possess  themselves  of  the  best  information  they  could  get 
before  the  next  Association  at  Philadelphia  to  be  held  in  October,  that  some 
thing  might  be  done  to  encourage  them.      Since  then  I  am  informed  that 
they  propose  establishing  an  association  there  this  year.     With  a  view  to 
assist  them,  I  have  proposed  the  raising  of  a  small  library,  of  such  books 
as  may  be  more  immediately  serviceable  to  the  ministers,  and  those  who 
arc  candidates  for  the  ministry,  and  am  using  my  endeavors  to  procure 
what  books  I  can  for  that  purpose  in  America.     But  as  I  expect  the  con 
tributions  will  be  small,  I  greatly  wish  for  the  assistance  of  our  English 
friends.     The  proposal  is  to  forward  the  books  to  the  Rev.   Thomas 
Ustick,  Baptist  minister  in  Philadelphia,  to  be  forwarded  by  the  first 
good  opportunity ;  that  a  book  shall  be  kept  in  which  the  names  of  the 
contributors  shall  be  enrolled,  with  an  account  of  their  donations,  that 
posterity  may  know  what  exertions  were  made,  and  by  whom,  to  propa 
gate  knowledge  and  religion  in  that  wilderness.      I  mean  to  have  this 
library  under  such  regulations  as  that  it  may  form  the  basis  of  a  literary 
institution  there.     Those  of  our  ministers  who  are  able,  by  contributing 
their  works,   would  greatly  assist  in  laying  this  foundation;   and  I 
doubt  not  that  posterity  will  rise  up  and  call  them  blessed.    If  you  think 
well  of  this  proposal,  I  doubt  not  but  you  will  be  willing  to  lend  your 
influence  to  carry  it  into  effect.     I  mean  not  only  to  propose,  but,  accord 
ing  to  my  ability,  assist  in  this  matter ;  and  also  to  promote,,  as  far  as 


368  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

possible,  an  academy  amongst  them,  in  which  I  have  some  prospect  of 
succeeding.  As  I  shall  not  write  on  this  subject  to  any  but  Mr.  Evans 
and  yourself,  I  would  thank  you  to  mention  it  where  and  to  whom  you 
think  proper.  Those  Bibles  and  religious  books  printed  by  societies  to 
be  distributed  among  the  poor,  would  be  well  bestowed  there  at  present. 
I  shall  be  happy  on  all  occasions  and  by  every  opportunity  to  receive  a 
line  from  Mr.  Eippon.  With  sentiments  of  esteem, 

I  am  yours,  in  Jesus, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

Dr.  Manning's  brief  eulogium  upon  his  "  particular 
friend "  Governor  Hopkins,  the  first  chancellor  of  the 
college,  was  well  deserved.  This  great  and  good  man 
closed  his  long,  honorable,  and  useful  life  on  the  loth  of 
July,  1785,  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age.  "From 
the  vigor  of  his  understanding,  and  the  intuitive  energy 
of  his  mind,  he  had  established,"  says  his  biographer,  "  a 
character  not  only  prominent  in  the  annals  of  his  country, 
but  in  the  walks  of  literature.  Possessing  a  commanding 
genius,  his  constant  and  assiduous  application  in  the  pur 
suit  of  knowledge  eminently  distinguished  him  in  the  first 
class  of  literati.  A  leading  and  active  promoter  of  literary 
and  scientific  intelligence,  he  attached  himself  in  early 
youth  to  the  study  of  books  and  men,  and  continued  to 
be  a  constant  and  improving  reader,  a  close  and  careful 
observer,  until  the  period  of  his  death.  Holding  all 
abridgments  and  abridgers  in  very  low  estimation,  it  is 
cited,  in  exemplification  of  his  habitual  deep  research,  and 
the  indefatigability  with  which  he  penetrated  the  recesses, 
instead  of  skimming  the  surface  of  things,  that  instead  of 
depending  upon  summaries  and  concentrated  authorities, 
he  perseveringly  perused  the  whole  of  the  great  collection 
of  ancient  and  modern  history,  compiled  about  half  a  cen 
tury  ago,  by  some  distinguished  scholars  in  Europe ;  and 


1781-1785.'  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 

that  he  also  read  through  all  of  Thurloe's  and  other  pon 
derous  collections  of  state  papers."  Governor  Hopkins 
professed  the  principles  of  the  society  of  Friends,  at 
whose  places  of  worship  he  was  a  regular  attendant.  He 
was  a  .firm  believer  in  the  Christian  religion,  but  not  big 
oted  in  his  belief,  treating  all  societies  of  religious  people 
with  respect.  As  we  have  before  stated,  he  was  a  warm 
friend  of  the  college,  and  Libored  zealously  to  promote 
its  interests. 

The  following  brief  letter  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Evans, 
conveys  the  pleasing  intelligence  that  the  books,  to  which 
allusion  has  already  been  made,  had  been  voted  to  the 
college  by  the  Bristol  Education  Society  :  — 

BRISTOL,  Sept.  5,  1785. 

DEAR  SIR: 

I  take  this  opportunity,  by  my  worthy  young  friend  Mr.  Waldo,  of  in 
forming  you  that  at  our  late  annual  meeting  of  the  Education  Society 
here,  Aug.  24,  I  obtained  a  vote  in  favor  of  your  college,  respecting  the 
many  valuable  books  we  have  to  dispose  of,  and  am  empowered  to  send 
such  as  I  may  approve  of.  I  shall  take  an  early  opportunity  of  doing 
this,  and  when  received  shall  hope  for  the  favor  of  a  line  from  you. 

I  have  also  to  request  the  favor  of  a  diploma  of  M.  A.  for  my  worthy 
colleage,  the  Eev.  James  Newton,  a  gentleman  whose  sound  learning  and 
amiable  character  will  do  more  honor  to  the  title  than  the  title  will  do  to 
him.  He  is  totally  ignorant  of  this  application,  nor  should  I  have  made 
it  but  that  it  hurt  me  to  think  so  worthy  a  man  should  appear  to  be  neg 
lected,  whilst  Mr.  Hall  and  myself,  who  are  connected  with  him  in  the 
academy,  and  esteem  it  sufficient  honor  to  be  his  equals,  are,  each  of  us 
graduated.  And  by  a  late  regulation  our  names  will  all  appear  very  con 
spicuously  in  our  Museum. 

I  write  this  in  haste,  and  remain,  with  every  wish  friendship  can  dic 
tate  for  the  happiness  of  you  and  all  your  extensive  connections,  dear 

sir,  your  affectionate 

Friend  and  brother, 

CALEB  EVANS. 


370  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

This  donation  —  consisting  of  Walton's  Biblio  Sacra 
Polyglotta  with  CastelPs  Lexicon,  in  8  vols.  folio ;  Bayle's 
Dictionary,  5  vols.  folio ;  Chambers'  Cyclopaedia,  2  vols. 
folio ;  several  Fathers  of  the  church,  and  standard  works 
in  science,  history,  and  literature  —  was  received  early  the 
following  year.  Such  evidences  of  kind  feeling  on  the  part 
of  those  with  whom  this  country  had  so  recently  been  at 
war,  must  have  been  highly  gratifying  at  the  time,  as  they 
most  certainly  are  even  at  the  present  day.  This  society 
was  founded  in  the  year  1780,  in  aid  of  the  Baptist 
Academy  at  Bristol,  "  to  the  end  that  dissenting  con 
gregations,  especially  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  in  any 
part  of  the  British  dominions,  may  be  more  effectually 
supplied  with  a  succession  of  able  and  evangelical  minis 
ters."  The  society  has  been  eminently  useful.  It  is  now 
in  the  possession  of  a  very  valuable  library,  containing  the 
collection  of  books,  paintings,  etc.,  of  the  Rev,  Dr.  An 
drew  Gifford,  for  many  years  sub-librarian  of  the  British 
Museum,  and  the  library  of  Thomas  Llewelyn,  LL.D. 

PROVIDENCE,  Sept.  9,  1785. 
To  THE  HONORABLE  DAVID  HOWELL, 

MEMBER  or  CONGRESS  IN  J^EW  YORK  : 

SIR  :  —  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  corporation  yesterday,  we  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  address  you,  in  their  name,  on  the  subject  of  their 
petition  to  Congress  for  an  allowance  for  rents,  and  for  damages  done  the 
edifice  while  occupied  by  the  public,  which  is  so  justly  due  to  them  ;  and 
to  request  you  to  exert  yourself  to  bring  that  business  to  an  issue  as 
speedily  and  favorably  as  possible  before  you  leave  Congress ;  more  es 
pecially  as  they  expect  to  have  no  member  to  succeed  you  who  will  have 
it  in  his  power  or  in  his  inclination  to  serve  the  interests  of  the  college 
equal  to  its  secretary. 

It  is  imagined  that  your  intimacy  and  interest  with  the  committee  ap 
pointed  to  report  on  our  petition,  will  enable  you,  before  the  report  is 


1784-1785. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  371 


made,  to  discover  what  will  be  the  tenor  of  it.  Of  this  advantage  we  wish 
you  to  avail  yourself;  and,  should  it  wear  an  unfavorable  aspect,  prevent 
its  being  made.  Such  a  report  might  preclude  us  from  ever  obtaining 
any  allowance  from  our  own  Legislature;  but  if  the  petition  is  either 
pending  before  Congress,  or  the  prayer  of  it  rejected  by  them,  our  prospects 
of  assistance  and  relief  from  this  quarter  will  be  very  unpromising,  how 
ever  they  might  prove  otherwise. 

You  may  rely  that  this  is,  by  your  best  friends  here,  considered  as  a 
matter  of  no  small  importance ;  and  they  believe  that  your  interest  in 
Congress  can  even  obtain  the  prayer  of  our  petition,  if  it  is  in  any  wise 
practicable  ;  and  they  also  think  that  it  will  be  no  inconsiderable  acces 
sion  to  that  rich  harvest  of  honor  which,  as  a  delegate  of  this  State,  you 
have  already  reaped.  With  sentiments  of  esteem,  we  subscribe  ourselves, 
Your  friends  and  fellow-citizens, 

JAMES  MANNING,     1 

JOHN  BROWN,  t    Committee. 

ENOS  HITCHCOCK,  J 

On  Saturday,  Dec.  3,  of  this  year,  the  Hon.  Joseph 
Brown,  LL.D.,  of  whose  sickness  Manning  in  his  corres 
pondence  makes  mention,  died  at  his  house,  in  the  fifty- 
second  year  of  his  age.  "  His  funeral,"  says  his  obituary, 
"  was  attended  by  a  numerous  train  of  mourning  relatives, 
and  the  most  respectable  inhabitants  of  the  town,  and  a 
discourse  suitable  to  the  occasion  was  delivered  by  Dr. 
Manning The  Faculty  and  students  joined  the  pro 
cession  as  mourners,  and  felt  the  loss  of  a  Maecenas."  His 
character  and  life  we  have  already  given  in  our  sketches 
of  the  Brown  family. 

We  close  this  chapter  with  a  correspondence  between 
Manning  and  John  Gill,  a  goldsmith  of  London.  It  re 
lates  principally  to  the  publications  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  John 
Gill,1  and  will  on  this  account  be  found  interesting.  The 

i  This  distinguished  Baptist  divine  died  at  his  house  at  Camberwel),  Oct.  14, 
1771,  in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of  his  age.  He  was  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church 


372  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

last  letter  contains  a  pleasant  bibliographical  "morceau," 
which  the  editor  of  the  forthcoming  edition  of  Backus's 
Ecclesiastical  History  will  note  in  his  book  of  references. 

LONDON,  March  13,  1784. 
REVEREND  SIR  : 

I  take  the  liberty  to  inform  you  of  the  death  of  Mr.  George  Keith,1  book 
seller  in  London.  He  died  Dec.  4,  1782,  and  left  me  his  sole  executor. 

and  congregation  at  Horselydown  Southwark,  near  London,  for  fifty-one 
years.  The  following  is  a  list  of  bis  published  writings,  all  of  which  are  to  be 
found  in  the  library  of  the  University,  having  been  bequeathed  to  the  college  by 
the  author  (see  Chap.  IV.  p.  199):  (1.)  Ancient  Mode  of  Baptizing  by  Immer 
sion  maintained.  8vo.  London,  1726.  (2.)  Defense  of  Ancient  Mode  of  Baptiz 
ing  by  Immersion.  8vo.  London,  1727.  (3.)  Exposition  of  Solomon's  Song.  Fo 
lio.  London,  1728.  A  fourth  edition  of  this  work  was  published  in  1805,  in  two 
octavo  volumes.  (4.)  Prophecies  respecting  the  Messiah  fulfilled  in  Jesus.  8vo. 
London,  1728.  (5.)  The  Cause  of  God  and  Truth  (in  answer  to  Dr.  Whitby  on 
the  Five  Points).  4  vols.  8vo.  London,  1735-8.  A  fifth  edition  was  published  in 
1838,  in  one  octavo  volume.  (6.)  Exposition  of  the  New  Testament.  3  vols.  folio. 
London,  1746-8.  (7.)  Exposition  of  the  Old  Testament.  6  vols.  folio.  London, 
1748-63.  A  new  edition  of  both  Testaments,  with  a  memoir  by  Dr.  Rippon,  and  a 
portrait,  was  published  in  1816,  in  nine  volumes  quarto.  Vol.  I.  of  another  edi 
tion  was  published  in  1852,  in  royal  octavo,  and  the  Old  Testament  was  published 
by  Collingridge,  of  London,  in  1854,  in  six  royal  octavo  volumes.  (8.)  Anti-Pcdo- 
baptism.  8vo.  London,  1753.  (9.)  The  Argument  from  Apostolical  Tradition  in 
favor  of  Infant-Baptism  considered.  The  third  edition  of  this  was  published  in 
1765,  in  octavo.  (10.)  Dissertation  on  the  Antiquity  of  the  Hebrew  Language, 
Letters,  etc.  8vo.  London,  1767.  (11.)  A  Body  of  Doctrinal  and  Practical  Di 
vinity.  3  vols.  4to.  London,  1769-70.  This  has  gone  through  several  editions,  the 
latest  of  which  was  published  in  1839,  in  two  volumes  octavo.  (12.)  Sermons  and 
Tracts,  with  memoirs  of  the  author.  2  vols.  4to.  London.  1773.  A  new  edition 
of  Gill's  Sermons,  in  three  volumes  octavo,  has  appeared.  In  addition  to  the  list 
here  given,  Dr.  Gi!l  published  many  occasional  sermons  and  tracts  on  Baptism, 
most  of  which  are  in  the  college  library. 

"  If  any  man,1'  says  the  Rev.  Augustus  Toplady,  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  "  can 
be  supposed  to  have  trod  the  whole  circle  of  human  learning,  it  was  Dr.  Gill. 
While  true  religion  and  sound  learning  have  a  single  friend  in  the  British  empire, 

the  works  and  nr.me  of  Dr.  Gill  will  be  precious  and  revered With  a 

solidity  of  judgment  and  with  an  acuteness  of  discernment  peculiar  to  few,  he 
exhausted,  as  it  were,  the  very  soul  and  substance  of  most  arguments  he  un 
dertook." 

1  Mr.  Keith  was  a  brother-in-law  of  the  writer,  having  married  his  sister  Mary, 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gill. 


1784-1785.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  373 

I  find  by  his  books  that  you  stand  indebted  to  his  estate  £2  9s.  9d.,  which 
I  doubt  not  you  will  honorably  discharge.  At  the  same  time,  I  beg  leave 
to  acquaint  you  that  I  have  several  sets  of  Dr.  Gill's  New  Testament,  five 
volumes  quarto,  at  £3  15s.  each  set,  in  boards.  According  to  the  propo 
sals  at  first  delivered  out,  subscribers  for  six  sets  to  have  a  seventh,  I  am 
willing  to  dispose  of  them  on  these  terms,  or,  if  a  less  number  is  wanted, 
will  allow  twenty  per  cent,  on  delivery,  payable  by  a  merchant  or  trader 
in  London.  There  is  also  the  Old  Testament  in  quarto,  begun  by  Mr. 
Keith,  but  I  cannot  get  any  bookseller  in  London  to  complete  it.  It  be 
gins  with  Genesis  and  ends  with  the  132d  Psalm,  in  six  volumes.  These  I 
have  to  dispose  of  at  £1  16s.  The  subscription  price  was  £4  10s.,  or  15s. 
each  volume.  Also  some  few  sets  of  the  Doctor's  tracts,  collected  together 
and  printed  in  three  volumes  qiiarto,  with  memoirs  of  his  life,  at  £1  16s., 
or  12s.  each  volume.  Also  his  Cause  of  God  and  Truth,  and  his  Exposition 
of  Solomon's  Song,  at  12s.  each  volume,  all  printed  on  the  same  size  and 
paper  as  the  New  Testament.  As  I  wish  to  promote  the  sale  of  the  Doc 
tor's  works  in  America,  on  that  account  I  have  charged  them  at  a  low 
price,  when  the  discount  proposed  is  considered.  A  line  directed  for  me 
to  be  left  at  Mr.  Ash's,  bookseller,  No.  15  Little  Tower  Street,  will  be  con 
veyed  to  me.  I  am,  reverend  sir,  with  all  due  respect, 
Your  humble  servant, 

JOHN  GILL. 

PROVIDENCE,  July  9,  1784. 

SIR:  —  Yours  of  March  13  reached  me  the  last  month.  I  had  be 
fore  heard  of  the  death  of  Mr.  George  Keith,  and  sympathize  with  you 
and  the  family  in  the  loss.  I  had  no  knowledge  of  a  balance  due  to  him 
till  I  received  your  letter,  as  I  had  many  years  ago  given  orders  to  a 
friend  of  mine,  whom  I  have  not  since  seen,  to  pay  the  balance,  if  any 
remained  due.  By  this  conveyance  goes  a  letter  from  Mr.  Backus  to  Mr. 
Henry  Kane,  executor  to  Mr.  Wallin,  to  pay  you  the  sum  of  £2  9s.  9d. 
on  my  account,  as  he  had  money  in  Mr.  Wallin's  hands.  If  you  will 
please  call  on  him  he  will  doubtless  discharge  the  debt.  Of  this  please  to 
advise  me  by  the  first  opportunity.  I  shall  be  extremely  sorry  if  the 
edition  of  Dr.  Gill's  Bible  in  quarto  cannot  be  completed,  as  I  had  sold 
my  former  set,  in  full  confidence  that  I  should  soon  be  able  to  replace 
mine  from  this  edition.  Others  here  wish  to  purchase,  but  they  also  wish 
to  have  the  work  complete.  They  especially  wish  for  his  Exposition  of 
the  Prophets.  Would  it  not  be  better  for  your  family  to  complete  the 
32 


374  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  VIII. 

work,  than  to  lose  in  a  great  measure  the  sale  of  what  is  already  done, 
and  deprive  the  world  of  such  a  valuable  treasure  ?  I  have  on  hand  some 
of  all  the  rest  of  his  works  you  mention ;  besides,  at  present  it  is  ex 
tremely  difficult  to  make  remittances  to  England,  as  the  mercantile  affairs 
of  the  country  have  been  so  long  and  so  greatly  deranged  ;  to  which  I 
may  add  the  great  inattention,  in  general,  to  reading  books  on  religious 
subjects,  —  the  natural  consequence,  perhaps,  of  such  a  kind  of  war  as  that 
in  which  we  have  been  involved.  This,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  will  soon  alter 
for  the  better,  when  I  shall  watch  every  opportunity  of  making  Dr.  Gill's 
works  as  much  known  as  possible.  This  I  have  hitherto  ever  had  in  view, 
and  it  was  no  inconsiderable  motive  in  parting  with  his  Exposition,  above 
mentioned.  I  was  lately  desired  to  inquire  whether  those  editions  com 
plete  could  be  obtained  in  England,  by  a  gentleman  who  wishes  to  pur 
chase  them.  The  state  of  religion  amongst  our  denomination  in  America 
appears  rather  on  the  gaining  hand,  as  there  arc  revivals  in  many  of  the 
churches.  The  college,  too,  although  greatly  injured  by  the  war,  prom 
ises  soon  to  regain  its  former  state.  The  government  of  it,  through  the 
smallncss  of  its  funds  and  the  great  repairs  necessary,  find  themselves 
amazingly  embarrassed,  and  consequently  wish  for  every  assistance  from 
the  friends  of  the  institution,  from  ever  quarter.  I  am,  sir, 
Your  friend  and  servant, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

LONDON,  Oct.  14,  1784. 

SIR  :  —  I  received  yours  in  the  month  of  August  last.  Have  applied 
to  Mr.  Kane,  Mr.  Walliu's  executor,  who  informs  me  that  he  has  no 
money  in  hand  for  Mr.  Backus.  Mr.  Backus  sent  seventy  copies  of  his 
History  of  the  Baptists,  which  never  came  to  the  late  Mr.  Wallin.  Mr. 
Kane  intends  to  acquaint  Mr.  Backus  of  his  disappointment.  I  am 
much  obliged  to  you,  sir,  for  the  great  regard  and  kind  intentions  expressed 
in  your  letter  of  promoting  the  sale  of  Dr.  Gill's  works  among  your 
friends.  I  have  now  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  the  quarto  edition 
of  the  Old  Testament  will  be  completed.  It  is  now  in  the  press,  and  will 
be  finished  with  all  convenient  speed.  What  was  contained  in  my  former 
letter  is  now  set  aside,  not  having  any  of  the  Old  Testament  to  sell  at  the 
price  therein  mentioned.  What  I  have  will  now  be  wanted  to  complete 
sets.  I  can  supply  you  with  a  set  of  the  folio  edition  at  ten  guineas,  and 
also  a  set  of  the  Prophets  at  two  guineas.  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  that 
religion  is  in  a  flourishing  state  among  you,  that  the  churches  of  Christ 


1784-1785.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  ^75 

are  increasing,,  and  that  yon,  sir,  may  again  see  that  seminary  of  learning 
over  which  you  have  the  honor  to  preside  retrieve  its  former  state,  and  be 
attended  with  all  the  success  and  usefulness  desirable.  I  am,  sir,  with  great 
esteem, 

Your  obliged,  humble  servant, 

JOHN  GILL. 

PROVIDENCE,  July  24,  1785. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

Yours  of  Oct.  14,  1784,  came  to  hand  in  May,  since  which  I  have  had 
no  opportunity  of  sending  you  an  answer.     Soon  after  the  reception  of  it 
I  saw  Mr.  Backus,  who  had  received  the  information  you  mention  respect 
ing  his  books,  but  informed  me  that  he  expected  still  to  obtain  them,  by 
getting  information  of  the  captain  who  carried  them ;  but  should  he  be 
disappointed  in  his  expectations,  he  had  sent  a  considerable  number  of 
the  second  volume  of  his  History,  from  the  net  proceeds  of  which  he  had 
ordered"  you  paid,  so  that  I  expect,  by  or  before  the  arrival  of  this,  your 
money  will  be  ready  for  you.     He  engaged  to  write  you  that  you  might 
know  on  whom  to  call.   I  am  sorry  for  the  disappointment,  but  hope  your 
money  is  safe.     I  am  rejoiced  to  hear  that  the  Doctor's  Old  Testament  is 
to  be  completed,  and  you  may  be  assured  that  what  little  influence  I  pos 
sess  shall  be  employed  in  the  sale  of  his  works.    But  such  at  present  is 
the  scarcity  of  money,  and  difficulty  of  making  remittances   to   Great 
Britain,  by  the  high  price  of  bills,  that  business  is  almost  entirely  stag 
nated.     We  hope,  however,  for  better  times.     I  thank  you  for  your  kind 
expressions  of  regard  for  the  college  with  which  I  am  connected.     Great 
indeed  have  been  the  damages  which  it  sustained  by  the  war,  for  which 
hitherto  we  have  received  no  compensation ;  nor  are  our  prospects  of  it  in 
future  very  nattering.   The  institution,  under  all  its  disadvantages,  begins 
to  nourish,  and  the  number  of  students  increases  as  fast  as  might  be  rea 
sonably  expected.    Religion  too  begins  amongst  us  to  hold  up  its  head. 
In  several  parts  there  are  great  revivals,  some  account  of  which  I  nave 
mentioned  to  Mr.  Rippon  in  a  letter  of  this  date.  Should  my  expectations 
of  discharging  that  balance,  through  Mr.  Backus,  be  again  disappointed, 
upon  advice  from  you  I  will  take  measures  which  will  prove  effectual  to 
accomplish  it.     With  sentiments  of  esteem,  I  am,  sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

JAMES  MANNING. 


376  MANNING  AND  BROWN  UNIVERSITY.    CHAP.  VIII. 

LONDON,  March  28,  1786. 
REVEREND  SIR  : 

A  letter  of  yours,  dated  July  24,  1785,  was  not  received  by  me  until 
about  the  middle  of  December.  I  should  be  glad  when  favored  with 
another  letter  from  you,  to  be  informed  by  whom  it  was  conveyed  to  me, 
as  no  name  was  mentioned  to  whom  I  might  apply  for  the  small  sum  you 
expected  to  be  paid  me  by  some  person  in  London.  I  am  surprised  to 
find  Mr.  Backus  has  not  heard  what  became  of  the  first  volume  of  his 
History  of  the  Baptists.  Last  summer  a  Mr.  Thomas  saw  a  sheet  of  his 
History  brought  into  a  house  where  he  was,  wrapped  around  a  pound  of 
cheese  or  butter.  Mr.  Thomas  went  immediately  and  purchased  all  the 
paper  relating  to  that  History  the  cheese-monger  had  ;  since  which  I  am 
informed  he  has  received  the  second  volume,  and  now  makes  complete 
sets.  Whether  this  is  done  for  his  own  emolument,  or  whether  he  intends 
it  for  Mr.  Backus's  advantage,  I  cannot  tell.  Honor  and  justice  seem  to 
decide  it  in  favor  of  Mr.  Backus.  But  as  I  have  no  acquaintance  with 
Mr.  Thomas,  I  can  say  no  further  about  it. 

I  am  sorry  to  inform  you  that  the  printer  who  had  engaged  to  finish 
the  Exposition  has  failed  and  left  London.  There  is  now  no  hope  of  its 
being  completed.  The  six  volumes  of  the  Old  Testament,  reaching  as  far 
as  the  132d  Psalm,  may  now  be  had  at  £1  16s.,  which  I  think  was  men 
tioned  to  you  in  a  former  letter.  If  your  friends  choose  to  have  any  of 
them  sent,  shall  allow  you  twenty  per  cent,  for  your  trouble.  I  remain, 
sir,  with  all  due  respect, 

Your  humble  servant, 

JOHN  GILL. 

On  the  back  of  this  letter  Mr.  Manning  has  written 
"  answered."  Of  the  reply,  however,  no  copy  has  come  to 
our  knowledge. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

1786-1788. 

Manning  as  a  patriot  statesman  —  Appointed  a  member  of  Congress  —Account  of 
this  event,  by  Hon.  Asher  Bobbins  —  Rev.  Dr.  Perez  Fobes  appointed  to  take 
charge  of  the  College  in  Manning's  absence  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Rippon,  giv 
ing  his  reasons  for  entering  upon  political  life  —  Interests  of  the  College  par 
amount  to  all  others  —  Manning's  description  of  a  minister  such  as  he  might 
wish  to  succeed  him  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Baptist  church  —  Letter  from 
Nicholas  Brown  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  respecting  Manning  and  a  proposed  va 
cancy  in  the  pastorate  of  the  church  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Evans  —  Letter  to 
Rev.  Abraham  Booth  — Rev.  Dr.  William  Gordon,  of  London,  author  of  a  his 
tory  of  the  American  war  —  Letter  to  him  —Congress  passes  an  act  for  the  relief 
of  the  College  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  giving  an  account  of  his  life  as  a 
member  of  Congress  —  Letter  to  his  colleague,  Gen.  Nathan  Miller,  giving  an 
account  of  his  own  embarrassed  condition  from  the  want  of  funds,  and  urg 
ing  him  to  take  his  seat  as  a  delegate  —  Second  letter  to  Mr.  Miller  —  Letter  to 
Manning  from  Dr.  Gordon  —  Public  exercises  of  Commencement  resumed  — 
Sketch  of  Hon.  Nicholas  Brown  —Account  of  the  collection  of  portraits  in 
Rhode  Island  Hall  — Extract  from  a  letter  illustrating  the  difficulties  against 
which  the  College  at  this  time  had  to  contend  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  — 
Severe  reflections  on  the  General  Assembly  of  Rhode  Island  —  Trying  period 
in  Manning's  life  —  Commencement  of  1787  —  Sketch  of  Hon.  Samuel  Eddy 

—  Biographical  sketch  of  Rev.  Dr.  Jonathan  Maxcy  —  Confederation  —Feder 
alists  and  Anti-Federalists  —  Manning's  influence  in  favor  of  the  "  New  Consti 
tution  "— Attends  the  Convention  in  Massachusetts  for  the  adoption  of  the 
Constitution—  Arecdote  respecting  him— Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  alluding 
to  his  attendance  upon  the  debates  of  the  Convention  — Letter  from  Rev.  Dr. 
Rippon  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Thomas  Ustick  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  — Bio 
graphical  sketch  of  Rev.  Dr.  Asa  Messer  —  Commencement  of  1788  —  Sketch 
of  Hon.  James  Burrill— Letter  from  Rev.  Morgan  Edwards  —  Letter  from 
Rev.  Dr.  Evans  — Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith— Early  schools  of  Providence 

—  Manning's  efforts  in  behalf  of  popular  education. 

DR.  MANNING  is  now  to  be  exhibited  in  a  new  charac 
ter  and  in  new  relations.     Hitherto,  says  Prof.  Goddard, 
we  have  seen  him  ministering  at  the  altar,  or  dispensing 
32* 


378  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  IX. 

the  oracles  of  wisdom  amid  the  shades  of  the  academy. 
We  are  now  to  note  his  career  as  a  patriot  statesman. 

The  articles  of  confederation  adopted  by  the  United 
States  in  1781,  proved,  as  is  well  known,  utterly  inade 
quate  to  the  purposes  of  government.  Commercial  em 
barrassments  multiplied  ;  the  public  credit  was  impaired  ; 
and  the  great  interests  of  the  nation,  nay  even  the  whole 
political  fabric,  was  threatened  with  destruction.  At  this 
crisis  of  depression  and  alarm,  Dr.  Manning  was,  by  a 
unanimous  resolution  of  the  General  Assembly,  appointed, 
at  its  March  session  in  1786,  to  represent  Rhode  Island 
in  the  Congress  of  the  Confederation.  The  story  of  this 
interesting  event  in  his  life  is  thus  told  by  the  Hon.  Asher 
Bobbins,  in  a  letter  to  Prof.  Goddard,  which  we  find  in 
his  memoir  of  Manning. 

"  Though  he  had  other  merits  and  ample  for  this  appointment  of  del 
egate,  I  have  no  doubt  the  dignity  and  grace  for  which  he  was  so  remark 
able  smoothed  the  way  to  it.  It  took  place  in  this  wise  :  There  was  a 
vacancy  in  the  delegation,  and  the  General  Assembly,  who  were  to  fill  it, 
were  sitting  in  Providence.  No  one  in  particular  had  been  proposed  or 
talked  of.  One  afternoon  Dr.  Manning  went  to  the  State  House,  to  look 
in  upon  the  Assembly  and  sec  what  was  doing.  His  motive  was  curi 
osity  merely.  On  bis  appearance  there,  he  was  introduced  on  the  floor, 
and  accommodated  with  a  seat.  Shortly  after,  Commodore  Hopkins, 
who  was  then  a  member,  rose  and  nominated  President  Manning  as  a 
delegate  to  Congress,  and  thereupon  he  was  appointed,  and,  according 
to  my  recollection,  unanimously.  I  recollect  to  have  heard  Commodore 
Hopkins  say  (it  was  at  the  house  of  his  brother,  Governor  Hopkins,  where 
I  shortly  after  met  with  him )  that  the  idea  never  entered  his  head  till  he 
saw  the  President  enter  and  take  his  seat  on  the  floor  of  the  Assembly ; 
and  that  the  thought  immediately  struck  him  that  he  would  make  a  very 
fit  member  for  that  august  body,  the  Continental  Congress. 

"  Congress  under  the  old  confederation  sat,  as  you  know,  in  conclave ; 
no  report  of  their  debates  was  published.  How  far  Mr.  Manning  mingled 
in  them,  therefore,  I  cannot  say.  I  recollect  his  speaking  of  one  in 


1786-1788.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  379 

which  he  participated  (the  subject  I  have  forgotten),  on  account  of  a  per 
sonal  controversy  to  which  it  gave  rise  between  him  and  a  fiery  young 
man,  a  delegate  from  Georgia,  by  the  name,  as  I  think,  of  Houston. 
This  young  man  in  his  speech  had  reflected  upon  New  England  and  her 
people.  Mr.  Manning  repelled  the  attack,  and,  by  way  of  offset,  drew  a 
picture  of  Georgia  and  her  people.  This  so  nettled  the  young  man  that 
in  his  passion  he  threatened  personal  violence.  The  next  day  he  appeared 
in  Congress  with  a  sword  by  his  side.  This  produced,  at  once,  a  sensa 
tion  in  that  body,  the  symptoms  of  which  were  so  alarming  that  he 
thought  proper  to  withdraw,  take  off  his  sword,  and  send  it  home  by  his 
servant.  In  the  course  of  the  day  he  took  an  opportunity  to  meet  with 
Mr.  Manning,  and  to  make  him  an  apology. 

"  He  must  have  given  himself  much  to  business  then,  as  he  seemed  to 
be  master  of  all  the  important  questions  which  had  been  debated,  and 
could  give  the  arguments,  pro  and  con,  offered  by  the  different  speakers. 

"  The  famous  Dr.  Johnson  of  Connecticut  was  a  member  at  the  same 
time,  with  whom  Mr.  Manning  became  intimate,  and  of  whom  he  always 
spoke  with  admiration.  The  Doctor  once  paid  him  the  compliment  of 
holding  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer,  which  Mr.  Manning  very  highly  val 
ued  as  coming  from  such  a  man.  It  was  upon  an  occasion  of  drawing 
up  a  report  for  a  committee,  of  which  both  were  members,  and  which  re 
port  the  Doctor  professed  to  be  much  pleased  with." 

Dr.  Manning  at  first  pleaded  his  connection  with  the 
college  as  a  sufficient  reason  for  declining  his  appoint 
ment  ;  but  many  of  the  corporation  were  gentlemen  of 
high  political  standing,  who,  regarding  the  interests  of 
the  institution  as  involved  in  the  character  and  reputation 
of  the  State  and  the  course  of  public  measures,  advised 
him  to  take  his  seat,  and  designate  a  suitable  person  to 
preside  in  his  absence.  Accordingly,  at  a  special  meeting 
of  the  Trustees  and  Fellows  held  at  his  house,  March  13, 
his  request  for  absence  was  granted,  and  the  Rev.  Perez 
Fobes,  LL.D.,  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  and 
society  in  Raynham,  Mass.,  was  appointed  to  take  charge 
of  the  institution  from  June  1  to  Sept.  1,  as  Vice  Pres- 


380  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IX. 

ident.  Mr.  Fobes  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  in 
the  class  of  17 G2.  He  accepted  the  appointment,  and 
discharged  the  duties  of  the  place  with  fidelity  and  good 
success.  Shortly  afterwards,  it  may  be  added,  he  was  ap 
pointed  Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy,  which  position 
he  occupied  twelve  years,  coming  in  from  Raynham  once 
or  twice  a  week,  during  portions  of  the  year,  to  deliver 
lectures.  In  1795  he  was  elected  one  of  the  Fellows  of 
the  college. 

The  following  letter  to  his  friend  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rippon, 
gives  the  reasons  more  especially  which  induced  Dr. 
Manning  to  accept  this  appointment,  and  also  his  views 
in  regard  to  entering  the  political  arena.  The  interests 
of  the  college,  it  will  be  observed,  in  this  as  in  all  other 
matters,  were  uppermost  in  his  mind. 

PROVIDENCE,  April  7,  1786. 
MY  DEAR  FRIEND  : 

Yours  of  June  22,  1785,  came  to  hand  too  late  to  comply  with  your  re 
quest  relative  to  Mr.  Dunscombe,  as  it  did  not  reach  me  till  November. 
He  is  on  my  list  for  the  honors  of  the  college  next  Commencement. 

Of  Mr.  Booth's  merit  I  am  fully  conscious  ;  but  what  apology  shall  I 
make  to  him  for  not  informing  him  that  the  degree  of  Master  in  the  Arts 
was  conferred  on  him  before  the  late  war,  and  that  he  stands  on  our 
printed  catalogue  graduated  in  1774  ?  Some  difficulties  respecting  making 
out  diplomas  for  him  and  for  a  number  of  gentlemen  in  England  delayed 
it  till  the  late  confusion  commenced,  which  totally  deranged  the  affairs  of 
the  college,  and  effaced  the  memory  of  it  till  of  late,  especially  as  our  secre 
tary  had  omitted  entering  the  graduations  on  the  records.  This  but  lately 
came  to  my  knowledge.  The  multiplicity  of  cares  which  divide  my  at 
tention  and  engross  all  my  time,  together  with  the  above,  is  the  best  ex 
cuse  I  can  make.  By  Dr.  Gordon  I  now  send  him  this  feather,  as  a  token 
of  our  respect  for  his  great  merit.  This,  with  a  letter  to  him,  and  letters 
and  diplomas  to  several  other  gentlemen  graduated  before  the  war,  I  take 
the  liberty  to  enclose  to  you,  and  beg  of  you  to  forward  them  the  first  good 
conveyance.  During  the  late  war  we  have  been  so  tremblingly  alive,  that 


1786-1788.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  381 

we  have  lately  started  up  as  from  a  dream.  Of  this  at  least  they  may  be 
assured,  that  they  were  not  treated  designedly  with  neglect. 

Pray,  don't  be  alarmed  should  you  hear  that  I  am  in  Congress.  The 
motive  of  my  accepting  this  most  unexpected,  unsolicited,  but  unanimous 
appointment  of  the  State  to  that  office,  was  the  recovery  of  a  considerable 
sum  due  to  the  college,  for  the  use  taken  of  the  edifice,  and  the  damage 
done  to  it  by  the  public  in  the  late  war.  It  was  thought  by  those  most 
acquainted  with  the  state  of  our  application  to  that  honorable  body,  that 
my  presence  would  facilitate  that  grant ;  more  especially  as  none  of  the 
persons  likely  to  be  elected  would  greatly  interest  themselves  in  that 
business.  My  appointment  is  only  from  our  late  session  till  next  No 
vember,  when  I  mean  to  relinquish  the  office,  as  in  general  I  always  con 
sidered  politics  out  of  my  province.  Accordingly  I  have  interdicted  my 
name  being  mentioned  in  the  next  nominating.  Both  the  college  and  the 
congregation  are,  I  hope,  well  provided  for  during  my  absence.  The 
latter  are  now  looking  out  for  a  minister.  I  ever  declined  the  pastoral 
care  of  the  church  as  quite  incompatible  with  my  engagements  to  the  col 
lege,  though  I  have  preached,  administered  ordinances,  visited  the  sick, 
attended  funerals,  etc.,  for  the  last  fifteen  years,  without  assistance.  Con 
vinced  that  I  cannot  hold  that  place  with  advantage  to  them  and  hold  the 
Presidency  of  the  college,  I  have  strongly  recommended  to  them  to  obtain 
if  possible  a  minister,  and  they  are  now  looking  out  for  one.  But  there 
is  little  probability  of  their  finding  the  man  soon  on  this  continent.  A  man 
of  letters,  politeness,  strict  piety  and  orthodoxy,  of  popular  talents,  pos 
sessed  of  a  good  share  of  human  prudence,  and  no  bigot,  —  in  a  word,  a 
truly  Christian  orator  is  the  man  they  want.  Should  any  of  our  English 
brethren  of  this  description  incline  to  visit  America,  I  wish  him  to  take 
Providence  in  his  way.  And  should  he  like  the  people,  and  the  people 
him,  I  believe  our  congregation  would  afford  him  an  honorable  support, 
as  it  is  large  and  composed  of  some  of  the  most  wealthy  men  and  first 
characters  in  the  State.  Pray,  have  you  no  Mr.  Eippons,  Booths,  Evanses, 
etc.,  to  spare  from  your  side  of  the  water  ?  I  should  for  one  be  very  happy 
to  see  them  on  our  American  shores. 

The  number  of  students  in  college  is  about  fifty,  and  our  prospects 
would  be  flattering  were  it  not  for  the  scarcity  *of  money  in  this  country, 
which  embarrasses  all  kinds  of  business.  A  fund  to  educate  pious  youth 
of  our  denomination  is  what  I  have  long  wished  for,  but  have  not  yet 
been  able  to  accomplish.  Several  hopeful  youth  for  want  of  this  are  de 
nied  an  education,  who  promised  fair  to  have  been  ornaments  to  the  min- 


382  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IX. 

istiy.     The  state  of  religion,  except  in  Boston,  Newport,  and  in  Vermont, 
is  not  very  flourishing.     With  sentiments  of  esteem,  I  am,  sir, 
Your  assured  friend  and  humble  servant, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

P.  S.  —  Some  drops  of  mercy  have,  I  trust,  fallen  upon  Providence. 
Our  common  friend  Dr.  Drowne  requested  me  to  mention  to  you  that  the 
gentlemen  who  appraised  the  loss  he  sustained  by  the  bad  package  of 
the  medicines  he  received  from  Mr.  Pine,  are  noted  apothecaries,  and  men 
to  be  trusted.  Such,  indeed,  I  esteem  them ;  and  have  every  reason  to 
think  the  Doctor  took  the  utmost  pains  to  render  the  loss  as  small  as  pos 
sible.  In  justice  I  think  myself  bound  to  say  this. 

The  letter  herewith  enclosed  from  Mr.  Nathaniel  Dummer  is  from  one 
of  my  particular  friends.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  our  church,  and  truly 
an  excellent  woman.  He  applied  to  me  to  get  the  information  through 
some  of  my  friends  in  England.  He  feared  to  intrust  it  to  a  person  in 
whom  I  could  not  place  the  highest  confidence,  as  he  feared  he  might  not 
get  the  best  information.  If  it  would  be  compatible  with  your  business  to 
procure  the  information  requested,  soon,  and  transmit  it  to  me  directed  to 
New  York,  and  inform  me  what  the  expense  is,  I  will  engage  to  see  you 
paid  the  expense  and  trouble  which  it  may  cost  you,  over  and  above 
thanking  you  for  your  kindness.  As  the  information  of  Gov.  Dummer 
is  thought  worthy  to  be  relied  on,  since  he  came  to  America  after  he  was 
grown  up,  it  is  thought  highly  probable  that  my  friend  is  the  next  heir  to  the 
estate.  Should  the  information  coincide  with  his  wishes,  he  means  imme 
diately  to  embark  for  England  to  attend  to  the  business.  Pray,  let  me  hear 
by  every  good  opportunity  of  your  welfare.  With  every  wish  which  the 
sincerest  friendship  can  dictate  for  your  temporal  and  eternal  felicity,  I 
subscribe  myself, 

Your  very  unworthy  fellow-servant  in  the  gospel  of  Christ, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

"  A  man  of  letters,  politeness,  strict  piety  and  orthodoxy, 
of  popular  talents,  possessed  of  a  good  share  of  human 
prudence,  and  no  bigot ;  in  a  word,  a  truly  Christian  ora 
tor," —  such  is  Dr.  Manning's  brief  and  expressive  de 
scription  of  a  minister  to  succeed  in  the  pastorate  of  the 
Baptist  church  at  Providence.  How  unconsciously  has  he 


1786-1788.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  383 

here  presented  his  own  character  as  a  preacher  and  pas 
tor! 

In  reference  to  Manning's  appointment  to  Congress  and 
the  consequent  vacancy  in  the  church,  Mr.  Nicholas  Brown 
thus  writes  to  the  Rev.  Hezekiah  Smith,  under  date  of 
April  2,  1786:  — 

"You  will  perhaps  think  it  strange  to  hear  of  Mr.  Manning's  going  to 
Congress,  but  I  reserve  giving  a  full  account  of  this  matter,  hoping  this 
may  have  some  influence  in  inducing  you  to  come  at  the  time  proposed, 
when  you  will  hear  all.  I  will  only  say  here,  that  as  the  college  increases, 
Mr.  Manning  urges,  and  with  reason,  that  he  cannot  possibly  attend  to 
the  duties  of  both  President  and  pastor,  and  that  the  church  has  suffered 
for  the  want  of  time  on  his  part  to  visit,  etc.  He  has  therefore  recom 
mended  to  the  church  and  society  to  look  up  a  suitable  person  as  his  suc 
cessor,  and  as  the  college  funds  arc  not  of  themselves,  in  their  present 
state,  sufficient  for  his  support,  he  goes  to  Congress  to  get  what  is  due  for 
rents,  damages,  etc.,  during  the  war The  committee  before  men 
tioned  are  not  only  to  obtain  supplies  in  his  absence,  but  to  look  up  a 
suitable  person  to  take  charge  of  the  church  as  a  pastor.  You  know  he 
must  be  a  man  of  learning,  and  prudently  popular.  The  society  will  en 
gage  such  an  one  a  genteel  living,  etc.  Your  advice,  my  dear  friend,  if 
nothing  more,  is  absolutely  necessary  at  this  juncture.  No  one,  let  me 
add,  will  be  more  acceptable,  on  all  accounts,  than  yourself,  as  a  candidate 
for  this  important  place." 

The  following  letter  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Evans  is  very  sim 
ilar  to  the  one  to  Dr.  Rippon,  and  bears  the  same  date. 
We  give  it,  however,  as  a  part  of  Manning's  correspond 
ence,  omitting  a  portion  to  avoid  needless  repetition. 

PROVIDENCE,  April  7,  1786. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

Some  time  in  November  last  I  received  your  most  acceptable  favor  of 
Sept.  5,  forwarded  by  Mr.  Waldo.  I  am  happy  to  hear  that  your  Ed 
ucation  Society,  at  their  meeting  in  August  last,  empowered  you  to  send 
such  valuable  books  as  they  have  to  dispose  of  to  our  college.  As  you 
intended  sending  them  by  an  early  opportunity,  and  as  I  have  heard  noth 
ing  on  the  subject  since,  I  fear  they  may  have  fallen  into  bad  hands,  or 


384  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  IX. 

have  been  lost  at  sea.     This  induces  me  to  write  now  that  you  may  know 
they  have  not  arrived. 

If  spared  to  see  another  annual  meeting  of  the  corporation,  at  which  only 
we  have  ever  conferred  degrees,  we  shall  remember  your  worthy  colleague, 
the  Rev.  James  Newton,  and  confer  on  him  the  degree  of  Master  in  the 
Arts.  Your  recommendation  of  any  gentleman  for  the  honors  of  the  col 
lege  will  always  meet  with  particular  attention. 

The  college  consists  of  upwards  of  fifty  members,  and  would  flourish 
greatly  were  it  not  for  the  scarcity  of  money  in  this  country,  which  ex 
ceeds  description.  This  scarcity  peculiarly  affects  us.  The  appropriation 
of  the  edifice  to  public  uses  during  the  war  was  productive  of  great  dam 
age  to  it,  for  reparation  of  which,  as  well  as  for  the  rents,  the  corporation 
sent  me  last  year  to  Congress,  with  the  state  of  our  accounts  and  claims 
and  sufficient  vouchers.  We  obtained  a  hearing  before  a  committee  ap 
pointed  to  report  on  the  subject  of  the  petition,  and  obtained  a  favorable 
report,  but  lost  it  before  Congress  when  the  report  was  acted  upon.  Our 
late  Professor  Howell  was  then  a  member,  and  had  great  influence  ;  but 
as  he  had  effectually  opposed  some  continental  measures,  he  thinks  the 
question  was  lost  by  that  means,  together  with  the  small  number  of  the 
states  on  the  floor.  By  the  articles  of  the  confederation,  he  is  not  again 
eligible  for  three  years  ;  nor  could  we  find  any  man,  probably,  to  be 
chosen,  who  would  deeply  interest  himself  for  the  college.  This  induced 
me,  at  his  earnest  importunity,  together  with  his  giving  the  greatest  en 
couragement  that  a  grant  might  be  obtained,  to  accept  the  unanimous 
appointment  of  our  Legislature,  at- their  late  session,  as  their  first  delegate 
in  Congress  till  next  November,  —  an  appointment  to  me  most  unex 
pected,  as  I  had  considered  politics  out  of  my  province,  and  on  that  ac 
count  had  declined  a  former  nomination  to  that  office.  The  interests  of 
the  college  lay  near  my  heart,  and  the  necessities  of  it  call  aloud  for  the 
exertions  of  all  its  friends.  I  thought  proper  to  give  you  these  hints,  lest 
upon  hearing  of  my  being  in  Congress  you  might  think  I  meant  to  as 
sume  the  political  character  ;  than  which,  in  general,  nothing  is  more 
remote  from  my  intentions,  notwithstanding  the  great  importunity  of 
many  of  the  Legislature  for  me  to  continue  in  the  office.  I  hope  the  col 
lege  and  congregation  will  be  well  provided  for  during  my  absence,  and 
I  do  not  doubt  it  from  the  arrangements  made. 

The  state  of  religion  in  this  country  at  present  is  low ;  yet  our  churches 
in  Boston  and  Newport  the  last  winter  and  this  spring  are  mercifully  vis- 


1786-1788.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  385 

ited,  and  some  drops  of  mercy  have,  I  trust,  fallen  upon  Providence. 
With  every  wish  for  your  happiness,  I  remain,  dear  sir, 
Yours,  etc., 

JAMES  MANNING. 

TO    THE   BEY.   ABRAHAM   BOOTH. 

PROVIDENCE,  RHODE  ISLAND,  April  7,  1786. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

Your  most  acceptable  favor  of  the  25th  of  March,  1785,  never  reached 
me  until  November  last.  I  heartily  thank  you  for  your  translation  of 
Dr.  Abadie.  I  esteem  it  a  masterly  performance,  and  wish  it  to  have  a 
general  spread  through  this  country,  which,  in  imitation  of  the  old  coun 
try,  is  rejecting  the  ancient  gospel.  Dr.  Chauncey's  book  in  favor  of 
universal  salvation,  printed  in  London,  has  made  many  proselytes  amongst 
the  New  England  Congregationalists.  Mere  nominal  Christian  ministers 
now  begin  to  show  on  whose  side  they  are.  I  am  convinced,  however, 
that  these  trying  times  are  necessary,  and  will  eventually  subserve  the 
interests  of  the  Redeemer.  False  friends  are  more  dangerous  to  religion 
than  avowed  enemies. 

After  a  cursory  reading  of  your  "  Pedobaptism  Examined  "  last  spring, 
I  loaned  it  to  my  Brother  Gano  at  New  York,  who  at  that  time  had  great 
need  of  it,  and  I  have  never  been  able  to  get  it  since.  I  read  it  with  great 
pleasure,  and  shall  be  happy  to  see  a  second  edition,  without  any  correc 
tions  except  such  as  the  judicious  author  may  see  fit  to  make.  It  is  out 
of  my  power  to  comply  with  your  request  to  criticize  it.  Some  hints 
when  at  New  York  led  me  to  suspect  on  whom  you  animadverted  in  the 
note  you  mention.  It  grieves  me  that  such  fine  abilities  should  be  pros 
tituted  in  the  support  of  error.  Hope  he  may  return  to  a  better  way  of 
thinking.  You  need  not  fear  any  discoveries  to  your  disadvantage. 

I  thank  you  for  your  attention  to  my  friend  Dr.  Drowne,  Having 
gained  his  object  in  France,  he  returned  last  summer,  and  is  now  well, 
and  retains  a  high  sense  of  the  favors  received  in  your  family. 

I  hope  the  amiable  and  worthy  Dr.  Stennett  is  recovered,  and  will  yet 
be  spared  to  do  much  service  to  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer,  in  addition  to 
the  important  service  he  has  already  rendered.  I  rejoice  to  hear  that  his 
son  is  such  a  worthy  character.  I  wish  he  may  fill  his  honored  father's 
place,  when  he,  having  served  his  generation  according  to  the  will  of 
God,  shall  sleep  with  his  fathers. 
33 


38G  MANNING  AND  CHAP.  IX. 

It  is  pleasing  to  hear  that  the  cause  of  God  gains  ground  in  England, 
and  especially  in  our  denomination.  Sorry  am  I  to  hear  of  the  dissolu 
tion  of  two  Baptist  churches  in  London.  Dr.  Gibbons  was  an  intimate 
acquaintance  of  rity  old  President  Davies,  and  through  that  channel  I  be 
came  acquainted  with  his  character.  I  esteemed  him  a  worthy,  good  man. 
Some  more  of  Mr.  Backus's  first  volume,  he  tells  me,  are  found  in  London. 

Your  letter,  accompanying  a  copy  of  Dr.  Abadie,  I  forwarded  immedi 
ately  to  Mr.  Stillman,  who  received  it. 

Our  Baptist  churches  in  Boston  and  Newport  have  through  the  winter, 
and  still  have,  a  gracious  visit.  Considerable  additions  have  been  made  to 
them,  and  the  good  work  continues.  I  have  also  good  tidings  of  the 
same  kind  from  Virginia.  Some  scattering  drops  I  hope  have  fallen 
upon  Providence,  but  the  number  of  late  conversions  is  but  small. 

What  apology  shall  I  make  for  not  advising  you  that  the  college  con 
ferred  on  you  the  degree  of  Master  in  the  Arts  in  1774  1  Directly  after 
Commencement  I  was  called  away  to  the  Southern  States,  and  on  my  re 
turn  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  pour  out  his  Spirit  on  the  people  of  my 
charge  in  a  glorious  manner,  which  engaged  both  my  time  and  my  atten 
tion  till  that  fatal  19th  of  April  following,  when  hostilities  commenced  at 
Lexington,  which  cut  off  all  intercourse  between  the  two  countries,  and 
so  deranged  the  affairs  of  the  college  that  it  is  but  lately  that  I  recollected 
that  diplomas  had  never  been  sent  to  you  and  several  other  gentlemen 
graduated  upon  the  recommendation  of  Mr.  Riley,  of  Northampton. 
If  these  excuses,  with  more  somewhat  similar,  are  not  sufficient,  and  I 
seem  really  to  doubt  myself,  I  must  take  the  blame  of  neglect  on  myself, 
and  make  the  best  apology  I  can  by  complying  with  my  duty  at  this  late 
hour.  As  a  testimony  of  our  respect  for  your  merit,  be  pleased  to  accept 
the  diploma  which  accompanies  this  ;  and  if  you  can,  excuse  the  omission 
of  giving  you  timely  advice.  To  one  not  a  resident  in  America  it  is  hard 
to  conceive  into  what  confusion  the  war  threw  us,  from  which  it  will  not 
be  easy  to  recover  soon.  The  college,  however,  is  in  a  more  prosperous 
state  than  ever,  and  promises  fair  to  hold  a  rank  amongst  literary  institu 
tions  in  this  new  world ;  but  the  scarcity  of  cash  greatly  embarrasses  the 
college  at  present,  as  it  is  extremely  difficult  for  people  of  property  to 
raise  money  to  educate  their  children. 

I  shall  be  glad  to  have  a  letter  from  Mr.  Booth  by  every  opportunity. 

With  every  wish  for  your  temporal  and  eternal  felicity  which  the  sin- 
cerest  friendship  can  dictate,  I  remain,  dear  sir, 

Yours,  in  Christ, 

JAMES  MANNING. 


1780-1788.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  387 

The  following  letter  is  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wil 
liam  Gordon,  who,  it  will  be  remembered,  came  from  Eng 
land  in  1770,  with  a  letter  of  introduction  to  Manning 
from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stennett  (page  123).  He  settled  in 
Massachusetts,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of  a  Congrega 
tional  church  in  Jamaica  Plain,  Roxbury,  on  the  6th  of 
July,  1772.  When  the  Revolution  commenced,  he  took  a 
very  active  part  against  his  native  country,  and  was  ap 
pointed  chaplain  to  the  Provincial  Congress.  He  preached 
.1  Thanksgiving  discourse,  Dec.  15,  1774,  which  is  pub 
lished  in  Thornton's  "Pulpit  of  the  American  Revolu 
tion."  In  1786  he  returned  to  England,  and  two  years 
afterwards  published,  in  four  octavo  volumes,  "  The  His 
tory  of  the  Rise,  Progress,  and  Establishment  of  the  In 
dependence  of  the  United  States  of  America," —  a  candid 
and  impartial  work,  says  Alibone,  of  which  there  have 
been  several  editions.  He  died  at  Ipswich,  Oct.  19,  1807, 
aged  seventy-seven.  Manning  it  seems  cultivated  an  inti 
macy  with  him.  In  this  letter  he  speaks  of  a  donation  of 
books  which  Gordon  made  to  the  college  library.  Among 
them  we  notice  Caryl's  Exposition,  with  Practical  Obser 
vations  upon  the  book  of  Job, —  a  work  in  two  huge  folios, 
published  in  London,  in  1676,  of  which  Charles  Lamb 
playfully  says,  "  What  any  man  can  write,  surely  I  may 
read." 

PROVIDENCE,  April  13,  1786. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

Yours  of  the  21st  and  27th  ult.  were  long  in  coming  to  hand,  and  the 
reasons  of  my  delaying  to  answer  them  were  that  I  mistook  one  week  in 
the  time  set  for  your  sailing,  and  my  having  a  number  of  letters  to  write 
and  several  diplomas  to  get  ready  to  send  to  some  gentlemen  in  England. 
All  these  I  have  enclosed  to  Rev.  John  Rippon,  successor  to  Dr.  Gill, 
who  will  take  care  to  forward  them  as  directed.  I  must  beg  the  favor  of 
you  to  see  Mr.  Rippon,  and  deliver  them  with  your  own  hand. 


MANNING  AND  CHAP.  IX. 

It  was  my  intention  to  have  seen  you  myself  and  brought  Mrs.  Man 
ning  down,  who  was  exceedingly  desirous  of  it,  that  we  might  have  had 
the  opportunity  of  a  parting  kiss  ;  but,  unfortunately,  my  horse  is  dis 
ordered,  and  unable  to  perform  the  journey.  Though  denied  the  pleas 
ure  of  one  more  interview  with  you  here,  I  trust  the  grace  and  mercy  of 
God  will  favor  us  with  one  infinitely  more  agreeable  in  a  better  world. 
You  have  my  unworthy  prayers  for  your  own  and  your  family's  safety 
while  on  the  ocean,  and  my  sincere  desires  for  your  and  their  prosperity 
in  your  native  country,  from  whence  I  shall  ever  rejoice  to  receive  letters 
from,  you  and  return  the  favor.  I  have  been  informed  that  you  have  been 
greatly  abused  in  the  Boston  newspapers.  You  know  that  is  a  talent  our 
neighbors  there  possess.  They  arc  ingenious  to  provoke.  I  am  sorry 
your  success  in  subscriptions  is  small  here ;  but  such  is  the  scarcity  of 
money  that  many  who  wished  to  be  possessors,  and  amongst  the  rest 
your  humble  servant,  were  necessitated  to  forego  it.  But  I  hope  to  see 
better  times.  Shall  be  proud  to  place  Dr.  Gordon's  History  of  the  Amer 
ican  War  in  the  college  library  at  Providence,  as  a  token  of  his  remem 
brance  and  friendship  for  that  institution. 

Don't  imagine  that  I  mean  to  exchange  the  sacred  for  the  political 
character,  because  until  the  next  November  I  have  accepted  an  appoint 
ment  of  the  State  to  a  seat  in  Congress.  It  is  purely  with  a  view  to 
obtain,  if  possible,  a  grant  to  compensate  the  rents  and  damages  for  the 
use  of  the  edifice  by  the  public  during  the  Avar.1  However  strongly  so 
licited,  I  have  not  the  least  idea  of  suffering  my  name  to  be  used  in  a 
subsequent  election.  More  than  a  thousand  pounds  is  our  just  due  from 

1  Dr.  Manning  did  not  succeed  in  his  endeavors.  Fourteen  years  afterwards 
(April  16,  1800),  through  the  exertions  mainly  of  Mr.  John  Brown,  Congress 
passed  an  act  entitled,  "  An  Act  for  the  Relief  of  the  Corporation  of  Rhode 
Island  College." 

"  Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  That  the  accounting  officers  of  the  treasury  be,  and  they 
are  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to  liquidate  and  settle  the  claims  of  the  cor 
poration  of  Rhode  Island  College,  for  compensation  for  the  use  and  occupation 
of  the  edifice  of  said  college,  and  for  injuries  done  to  the  same,  from  the  tenth 
day  of  December,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-six,  to  the  twenti 
eth  day  of  April,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty,  by  the  troops  of  the 
United  States;  and  that  the  sum  which  may  be  found  due  to  the  said  corporation 
for  damages  done  to  and  occupation  of  the  said  edifice,  as  aforesaid,  be  paid 
them  out  of  any  moneys  in  the  treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated." 

How  much  compensation  the  college  finally  received,  we  are  unable  at  present 
to  determine.  Dr.  Benedict,  in  his  History,  states  it  to  have  been  two  thousand 
dollars. 


1786-1788.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY. 

the  public.  With  our  small  funds  this  is  too  much  to  lose.  I  wish  with 
all  my  heart  you  may  succeed  to  your  wishes  in  returning  to  your  native 
country.  Mrs.  Manning  joins  in  her  best  regards  to  you  and  Mrs.  Gor 
don.  We  wish  you  every  felicity  which  the  sincerest  friendship  can  dic 
tate,  both  in  time  and  eternity. 

I  rest,  yours,  etc.,  in  gospel  bonds, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

p.  g.  —  By  Mr.  Brown,  the  wagoner,  we  received  the  box  of  books  in 
good  order,  and  I  beg  leave  in  the  name  and  in  behalf  of  the  corporation 
to  present  you  the  hearty  thanks  of  the  college  for  the  donation.  They 
are  delivered  to  the  librarian,  and  ordered  to  be  set  up  and  your  name  to 
be  enrolled  amongst  the  benefactors  of  Rhode  Island  College. 

JAMES  MANNING,  President. 

TO    THE    EEV.    DR.    SMITH. 

NEW  YORK,  17th  May,  1786. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

Yours  of  the  27th  ult.  came  safe  to  hand,  for  which  I  thank  you,  and 
should  have  answered  it  before*  had  not  my  hands  been  full.  Mrs.  Man 
ning  informed  me  of  the  application  to  you  to  be  my  successor  in  the 
meeting  at  Providence.  I  should  be  happy  in  your  society,  and  should 
Providence  order  your  lot  there,  I  shall  while  there  contribute  my  best 
endeavors  to  render  your  life  happy,  and  useful  to  the  people  ;  but  I  think 
it  best  to  interfere  as  little  as  may  be  with  their  determinations  in  settling 
a  minister,  as  I  conceive  it  might  lessen  my  influence  in  his  favor,  after 
his  settlement,  should  they  have  it  in  their  power  to  say,  when  his  sup 
port  might  be  felt,  that  I  was  any  means  of  it.  Not  that  I  hereby  mean 
to  excuse  myself  from  doing  my  personal  duty  in  that  case,  which  I  hope 
would  be  a  pleasure.  Should  you  accept  of  their  invitation,  your  piety, 
I  trust,  would  more  than  compensate  the  defect  of  politeness,  —  a  high 
degree  of  which  I  cannot  deem  primarily  essential  in  a  gospel  preacher, 
any  more  than  distinguished  rusticity.  Habits  of  easiness  in  access,  and 
gentle,  unaffected  manners,  are  most  pleasing  in  that  character. 

I  hope  you  may  have  the  pleasure  to  find  that  your  labors  at  Provi 
dence  are  followed  with  a  blessing.  The  Lord  is  doing  wonders  in  this 
city  and  its  vicinity,  but  especially  in  the  Jerseys,  at  the  Plains,  Moun 
tains,  Piscataway,  and  Cranberry.  I  attend  the  June  meeting.  Mr. 
Runyan,  on  Saturday,  baptized  twelve ;  the  Sabbatarian  minister  three. 
33* 


390  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IX. 

Great  power  appeared  to  attend  the  preaching.  Multitudes  appeared 
deeply  affected,  aud  during  the  meeting  several  professed  to  be  brought 
into  gospel  liberty.  Such  a  meeting  I  believe  was  never  seen  at  Piscata- 
way  before.  I  am  told  the  Thursday  following  twelve  were  baptized  at 
Quibbletown,  and  Lord's  Day  thirteen  at  the  Plains.  There  appears  a 
considerable  turn  in  the  minds  of  the  people  throughout  that  quarter.  Mr. 
Wilson  flames  out  and  is  remarkably  blessed,  and  goes  on  preaching,  ex 
horting,  and  baptizing  from  place  to  place  with  surprising  success.  The 
Lord  indeed  is  doing  great  things  in  the  land. 

Of  your  mother  I  can  give  no  information,  but  presume  she  is  living, 
otherwise  Mr.  Guthrie  or  your  brother  Jeremiah  would  have  told  me  of 
her  death.  My  situation  here  is  indeed  very  awkward,  without  a  col 
league,  without  money,  and  in  doubt  what  to  resolve  on.  Our  public 
affairs  wear  a  cloudy  aspect.  I  hope  it  is  that  the  interposition  of  Heaven 
may  be  seen  in  extricating  us  from  difficulty.  His  former  unmerited 
favor  to  this  guilty  land  encourages  me  to  hope  for  it  though  it  should 
almost  be  against  hope. 

The  savages  have  begun  their  barbarous  depredations  on  our  western 
frontiers,  but  probably  not  without  provocation  from  some  of  that  lawless 
banditti  which  forms  the  van  of  those  settlements.  It  is  expected  that,  on 
investigation,  this  will  be  found  true.  Many  of  the  innocent  must  doubt 
less  be  involved  in  ruin  in  consequence  of  it.  The  wretched,  deranged 
finances  of  the  Federal  Government,  will  allow  us,  if  disposed,  to  afford 
these  people  but  feeble  aid. 

I  am  treated  with  respect  by  Congress  and  the  heads  of  departments. 
The  present  Congress  possess  great  integrity,  and  a  good  share  of  abili 
ties  ;  but  for  want  of  more  States  on  the  floor  the  public  and  important 
business  is  from  day  to  day  neglected.  We  are,  h6wever,  in  daily  ex 
pectation  of  a  fuller  delegation.  If  personal  matters  could  be  so  adjusted 
that  I  were  not  disquieted,  I  should  be  very  happy  in  my  situation  here  ; 
for  I  commonly  preach  once  or  twice  on  Lord's  Days,  either  in  town,  on 
Long  or  Staten  Island,  or  in  the  Jerseys. 

Please  to  present  my  best  respects  to  Mrs.  Smith  and  friends,  and  be 
lieve  me  to  be 

Your  old,  unvarying  friend, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

Dr.  Manning's  colleague  was  Brig.-Gen.  Nathan  Mil 
ler,  of  Warren.  To  him  he  thus  writes,  giving  a  graphic 


1786-1788.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


391 


description  of  bis  own  embarrassed  condition  for  want  of 
funds,  and  urging  him  in  the  present  crisis  of  affairs  to 
take  his  seat  as  a  delegate,  and  by  his  presence  and  influ 
ence  aid  in  preventing  an  impending  dissolution  of  the 
Federal  Government.  That  Manning  fully  comprehended 
the  great  questions  which  agitated  this  Congress  of  1786, 
and  which  finally  led  to  a  more  perfect  union  of  the  States, 
is  evident  from  his  correspondence,  and  from  the  great 
interest  which  he  felt  and  the  efforts  which  he  made  to 
secure  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 

States. 

NEW  YORK,  7th  of  June,  1786. 

DEAR  SIR  : 

I  think  if  for  a  moment  you  would  figure  to  yourself  my  situation,  alone 
here  for  more  than  a  month,  reduced  to  the  very  last  guinea  and  a  trifle 
of  change  (which  is  the  case) ;  my  lodging,  washing,  barber's,  hatter's,  tai 
lor's  bills,  etc.,  not  paid  ;  without  the  favor  of  a  single  line  from  you  ad 
vising  me  whether  you  mean  to  come  or  not,  or  sending  forward  the  one 
hundred  dollars  on  hand,  which  you  proposed  doing  from  the  election 
if  you  was  not  likely  to  follow  me  soon,  —  I  say  if  you  would  but  realize 
my  situation,  you  could  not  but  pity  me  from  your  heart.     I  wrote  you 
long  since.     I  begged  an  answer  from  you,  one  way  or  another,  that  I 
might   know  what  measures  to  take.     But  as  I  am  now  situated,  I  can 
neither  stay  nor  go,  except  to  the  new  City  Hall,  if  my  creditors  exact  it ; 
and  strangers  have  no  more  compassion  on  me  than  the  State  that  ap 
pointed  me.     I  must  interest  you  to  forward  that  sum  of  one  hundred 
dollars,  if  no  more  can  be  had,  by  the  first  opportunity,  with  a  line  advis 
ing  me  of  your  real  intentions.     Matters  highly  interesting  to  this  Confed 
eracy,  and  indeed  I  think  the  question  whether  the  Federal  Government 
shall  long  exist,  are  now  before  Congress,  and  there  are  not  States  suffi 
cient  to  transact  the  necessary  business,  as  we  now  have  barely  nine  States 
on  the  floor.     Our  affairs  are  come  very  much  to  a  point,  and  if  the  States 
continue  to  neglect  keeping  up  their  delegations  in  Congress,  the  Federal 
Government  must  ipse  facto  dissolve.    I  have  written  the  Governor  on 
these  subjects,  and  desired  his  answer,  whether  we  should  keep  up  our 
delegation  or  not.     I  shall  wait  till  a  reasonable  time  for  an  answer  from 
you,  and  quit  if  I  do  not  receive  it.     Send  me  by  the  post  or  packets. 


392  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IX. 

Frank  your  letters  by  the  post.     I  shall  impatiently  wait  the  event,  and 
with  sentiments  of  esteem,  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

TO    THE    SAME. 

NEW  YORK,  12th  of  June,  1786. 

SIR  :  —  Yours  of  27th  ult.  came  to  hand  two  days  ago.  Am  mortified 
exceedingly  that  you  have  not  come  forward,  nor  sent  on  the  money  on 
hand ;  for  I  am  reduced  to  but  a  few  shillings,  and  my  bills  are  not  paid. 
My  situation  —  without  a  colleague,  without  money,  and  without  any  in 
structions  or  favorable  prospects  from  government  —  is  painful.  Rhode  Isl 
and  has  not  many  more  strides  to  make  to  complete  her  disgrace,  and  ruin 
too ;  but  that  is  not  all.  She  is  likely  to  hold  a  distinguished  rank  amongst 
the  contributors  to  the  ruin  of  the  Federal  Government.  Never  probably 
was  a  full  delegation  of  the  States  more  necessary  than  now,  for  you  may 
rest  assured  that  in  the  opinion  of  every  member  of  Congress,  and  in  the 
Several  departments,  things  are  come  to  a  crisis  with  the  Federal  Govern 
ment.  You  say  you  think  the  present  House  do  not  want  a  Congress  ; 
they  may,  it  is  more  than  probable,  very  soon  see  the  accomplishment  of 
their  wishes ;  for  without  a  speedy  reform  in  the  policy  of  the  States,  the 
Federal  Government  must  be  no  more.  The  flagrant  violations  of  the  pub 
lic  faith,  solemnly  plighted,  in  the  late  emissions  of  paper  money,  on  the 
conditions  on  which  it  is  emitted,  is  here  considered  as  the  completion  of 
our  ruin  as  a  nation  :  but  I  wrote  you  before  on  this  subject ;  it  is  too  pain 
ful  to  repeat.  Pray  send  me  on  the  money  on  hand,  or  come  and  bring  it 
yourself,  without  loss  of  time  ;  at  least,  write  me  by  every  vessel.  With 
sentiments  of  esteem,  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

The  following  letter  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gordon  will  be 
found  especially  interesting,  in  view  of  the  author's  posi 
tion  as  a  defender  of  America  on  English  soil :  — 

STOKE  NEWINGTON,  ENGLAND,  Sept.  13,  1786. 
MY  DEAR  SIR  : 

I  have  appropriated  a  few  of  my  busy  moments  to  your  friendship,  on 
which  I  set  a  high  value.  You  will  have  heard  of  our  safe  arrival.  The 


1786-1788.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  393 

passage  was,  blessed  be  God,  good  upon  the  whole,  and  though  longer  by 
a  week  or  two  than  we  could  have  wished,  yet  not  lengthy.  We  were 
in  London  within  six;  weeks,  lacking  two  days,  after  leaving  Boston,  and 
had  a  slight  sea-sickness  only  the  first  day.  Many  of  our  friends  and 
acquaintance,  and  some  of  our  relations,  had  been  removed;  but  we 
had  the  pleasure  of  finding  as  many  still  living  as  we  could  reasonably 
expect.  I  took  care  to  deliver  the  parcel  for  Mr.  Kippon  safely,  of 
which  you  will  probably  have  received  an  account  before  this  ai'rives.  It 
would  have  been  great  pleasure  to  us  to  have  seen  you  and  Mrs.  Man 
ning  before  our  departure ;  but  that  having  been  prevented,  I  trust  with 
you  that  the  grace  and  mercy  of  God  will  favor  us  with  an  interview 
infinitely  more  agreeable  in  a  better  world.  I  am  exceedingly  busy 
upon  my  History,  and  when  I  have  finished  it  shall  not  be  unmindful 
of  your  college  library.  The  abuse  in  the  public  papers  hindered  the 
subscriptions  very  much.  I  hope,  however,  they  will  be  made  up  in 
Britain.  The  beginning  of  next  month  I  mean  to  have  the  proposals 
circulating ;  but  am  apprehensive  that  the  book  will  not  go  to  the  press 
so  early  as  I  intended.  Every  one  tells  me  that  I  must  be  extremely  cau 
tions  how  I  word  myself,  in  speaking  of  individuals  in  Britain,  lest  I 
should  be  prosecuted  for  libelling  ;  and  prudence  will  require  my  advising 
with  some  gentleman  learned  in  the  law,  that  I  may  avoid  falling  into  the 
clutches  of  the  malevolent.  You  would  wonder  at  the  coolness  with 
which  I  have  been  treated  by  several,  even  of  my  brethren  in  the  ministry, 
for  the  part  I  took  while  in  America ;  this,  however,  has  not  made  me  re 
pent  of  engaging  on  the  side  of  liberty.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Martin,  of  your 
persuasion,  at  the  Westminster  end  of  the  town,  was  a  most  bitter  enemy 
to  the  Americans,  as  I  have  heard  ;  and  one  and  another  of  the  Presbyte 
rians  and  Congregationalists  were  not  less  so,  and  would  have  rejoiced  to 
have  had  the  promoters  and  encouragers  of  the  Revolution,  whether  in 
civil  or  sacred  orders,  hanged  as  rebels.  But  Heaven  has  disappointed 
and  mortified  them.  They  however  spit  out  their  venom  at  times. 

We  are  at  present  with  Mrs.  Gordon's  brother,  who  is  exceedingly 
friendly.  Where  we  shall  settle  is  wholly  uncertain ;  but  a  kind  Provi 
dence,  I  hope,  will  direct  in  much  mercy.  -Should  like  to  be  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  London,  for  the  benefit  of  corresponding  with  my  American 
friends,  and  doing  them  any  particular  service.  Such  a  situation  would 
place  me  also  in  the  midst  of  my  relations  and  British  acquaintance. 
These  matters,  however,  must  all  be  submitted  to  infinite  wisdom  ;  and 
I  desire  not  to  be  at  my  own  disposal  and  direction. 


304  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  IX. 

"We  have  been  favored  with  good  health  since  our  arrival.  I  am  con 
cerned  that  your  State  should  be  so  overseen  as  to  make  paper  money, 
etc.  Such  policy  will  never  make  you  prosper,  and  instead  of  preserving 
will  drive  away  property  and  plenty  from  you.  The  Americans  must 
make  all  kinds  of  property  secure,  or  confusion  will  follow.  I  am  most 
hearty  in  wishing  them  virtuous  and  honorable,  and  am  therefore  pained 
when  anything  takes  place  that  is  prejudicial  to  their  public  character. 
Mrs.  Gordon  joins  in  best  regards  to  self  and  Mrs.  Manning.  Remem 
ber  me  to  Mr.  Nicholas  Brown,  Mr.  Benson,  and  other  friends.  Let  me 
hear  from  you  by  the  first  opportunity.  Direct  to  Mr.  Field's,  Apothe 
cary,  Newgate  Street.  I  remain, 

Your  sincere  and  affectionate  friend, 

WILLIAM  GORDON. 

This  year  the  public  exercises  of  Commencement  were 
resumed.  Fifteen  young  men  took  their  Bachelor's  de 
gree,  and  among  them  Nicholas  Brown,  Jr.,  afterwards  the 
distinguished  benefactor  of  the  college.  He  was  at  this 
time  but  seventeen  years  of  age,  having  entered  the  Fresh 
man  Class  in  1782,  when  the  college  again  began  to  live. 
Mr.  Brown  commenced  his  benefactions  in  February,  1792, 
by  presenting  to  the  Trustees  and  Fellows  of  the  college 
the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars,  to  be  expended  in  the 
purchase  of  law  books  for  the  library.  This  he  did,  in  the 
language  of  the  letter  announcing  the  donation,  "  under  a 
deep  impression  of  the  generous  intentions  of  my  honored 
father,  deceased,  towards  the  college  in  this  town,  as  well 
as  from  my  own  personal  feelings  towards  the  institution, 
in  which  I  received  my  education,  and  from  a  desire  to 
promote  literature  in  general,  and  in  particular  the  knowl 
edge  of  the  laws  of  our  country,  under  the  influence 
whereof  not  only  our  property  but  our  lives  and  dearest 
privileges  are  protected."  In  1804  he  presented  to  the 
corporation  the  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars,  as  a  founda 
tion  for  a  professorship  of  oratory  and  belles-lettres.  It 


1786-1788.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  395 

was  on  this  occasion,  in  consideration  of  this  donation,  and 
of  others  that  had  been  received  from  him  and  his  kindred, 
that  the  name  of  the  institution  was  changed,  in  accord 
ance  with  a  provision  in  its  charter,  from  Rhode  Island 
College  to  Brown  University.  In  1822  he  erected  at  his 
own  expense  the  second  college  building,  which  he  pre 
sented  to  the  corporation,  in  a  letter  bearing  date  Jan.  13, 
1823.  At  his  suggestion  it  was  named  "Hope  College," 
in  honor  of  his  only  surviving  sister,  Mrs.  Hope  Ives.  In 
1835  he  erected  the  third  building,  which  he  also  pre 
sented  to  the  corporation,  with  a  request  that  it  might  be 
named  "  Manning  Hall,"  in  honor  of  the  memory  of  his 
own  distinguished  instructor  and  revered  friend,  President 
Manning.  Mr.  Brown  died  Sept.  27,  1841,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two.  A  discourse  commemorative  of  his  charac 
ter  and  life  was  delivered  by  President  Wayland,  in  the 
University  chapel,  which  discourse  was  afterwards  pub 
lished.  The  entire  sum  of  his  recorded  benefactions  and 
bequests  to  the  University  amounts  to  one  hundred  and 
sixty  thousand  dollars,  assigning  to  the  donations  of  land 
and  buildings  the  valuation  which  was  put  upon  them  at 
the  time  they  were  made. 

"  Many  years,"  says  Prof.  Gammell,  "  have  now  elapsed 
since  he  descended  to  the  tomb,  but  the  monuments  of 
his  wise  and  pious  benefactions  are  all  around  us,  —  in  the 
University  with  which  his  name  is  associated ;  in  the  But 
ler  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  and  the  Providence  Athena3iim, 
to  whose  founding  he  so  largely  contributed ;  and  in  the 
churches,  and  colleges,  and  institutions  of  philanthropy 
over  the  whole  land,  to  which  he  so  often  lent  his  liberal 
and  most  timely  aid.  So  long  as  learning  and  religion 
shall  have  a  place  in  the  affections  of  men,  these  enduring 


396  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  IX. 

memorials   will    proclaim    his   character,   and   speak  his 
eulogy.     Hi  sanctissimi  testes,  hi  maximi  laudatores." 

A  few  years  before  his  death,  at  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  corporation  in  1835,  Mr.  Brown  was  formally  requested 
to  sit  for  his  likeness,  which  was  taken,  at  full  length,  by 
Harding,  one  of  the  most  celebrated  American  artists.  It 
now  graces  the  collection1  of  portraits  in  Rhode  Island 

1  This  collection,  to  which  we  have  frequently  alluded,  now  comprises  twenty- 
six  portraits,  many  of  them  painted  from  life.  The  following  list  of  them  may 
be  of  interest,  perhaps,  to  some  of  our  readers :  — 

COLLEGE  OFFICERS,   GRADUATES,  ETC. 

1.  JAMES  MANNING.    Two  portraits,  one  of  which  is  an  original,  painted  by 

Alexander,  of  Newport,  in  the  year  1770. 

2.  WILLIAM  ROGERS,  the  first  student  of  the  college.  Painted  by  his  daughter, 

E.  J.  Rogers,  from  an  original  portrait  by  Rembrandt  Peale. 

3.  FRANCIS  WAYLAND,  the  fourth  President.    A  full-length  portrait.    A  fine 

marble  bust  of  Wayland,  executed  by  Ball,  of  Boston,  is  in  the  college 
library. 

4.  MOSES  BROWN,  the  youngest  of  the  "  Four  Brothers." 

5.  NICHOLAS  BROWN.    A  full-length  portrait,  by  Harding. 

6.  THOMAS  POYNTON  IVES,  a  distinguished  benefactor  of  the  college.  Born  in 

1769. 

7.  ASHER  ROBBINS,  an  early  tutor,  and  the  first  librarian  of  the  college. 

8.  HENRY  WHEATON,  Minister  Plenipotentiary  at  Berlin.   Graduated  in  1802. 

9.  ADONIRAM  JUDSON,  missionary  to  Burmah.    Graduated  in  1807. 

10.  TRISTAM  BURGESS,  the  distinguished  orator.    Graduated  in  1796. 

11.  SOLOMON  DROWNE,  a  Professor  twenty-three  years.    Graduated  in  1773. 

12.  NATHAN  B.  C  ROCKER.  For  nearly  sixty  years  rector  of  St.  John's  Church, 

Providence,  and  for  fifty-five  years  a  Fellow  of  the  University. 

SOLDIERS,  STATESMEN,  ETC.,  DISTINGUISHED  IN  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORY. 

1.  WILLIAM  CODDINGTON,  the  first  Governor  of  Rhode  Island. 

2.  CHARLES  II.,  from  whom  Rhode  Island  received  her  charter,  in   1663.    A 

fine  original  picture  by  Caspars,  an  artist  contemporary  with  the  King. 

3.  CATHERINE  OF  BRAGANZA,  his  Queen.  Also  an  original,  by  Gaspars. 

4.  EZEK  HOPKINS,  the  first  commodore  in  the  American  navy. 

5.  WILLIAM  BARTON,  the  captor  of  Major-General  Prescott. 

6.  ABRAHAM  WHIFFLE,  the  "  Daring  Commodore." 

7.  SAMUEL  SLATER,  the  founder  of  the  manufacturing  interests  of  Rhode 

Island  and  of  America. 

8.  OLIVER  HAZARD  PERRY,  the  hero  of  Lake  Erie. 


1780-1788.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  397 

Hall.  The  visitor  will  gaze  upon  it  with  renewed  interest 
as  successive  years  roll  on.  It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted 
that  the  portraits  of  his  worthy  sire  and  ancestors  cannot 
be  placed  by  its  side. 

Returning  now  to  our  narrative,  we  learn  from  the  fol 
lowing  extract  from  a  letter  addressed  by  Mr.  Nicholas 
Brown,  senior,  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  dated  Nov.  9,  1786, 
that  Dr.  Manning  resumed  his  accustomed  duties  at  the 
college  in  the  beginning  of  November  of  that  year.  The 
extract  is  introduced  as  an  illustration,  in  part,  of  the  dif 
ficulties  with  which  the  college  had  to  contend,  owing  to 
the  scarcity  of  money  and  the  confused  state  of  the  times. 

"  Mr.  Manning  arrived  here  early  in  this  month,  so  that  we  have  been 
destitute  of  a  supply  for  the  pulpit  only  two  or  three  Sabbaths.  The  cor 
poration  'were  put  to  the  necessity  of  beginning  college  exercises  with  the 
new  tutor,  young  Mr.  Flint,  several  days  after  the  scholars  had  arrived, 
Mr.  Bobbins  having  been  detained  at  New  London,  waiting  for  a  passage, 
until  after  Mr.  Manning  left.  The  worst  of  all  is  that  we  are  still  desti 
tute  of  a  steward,  several  having  applied  for  the  place  who  were  not 

9.  GILBERT  STTTART,  the  painter  of  Washington's  portraits.    Born  in  Rhode 
Island. 

10.  GEORGE  BERKELEY,  the  distinguished  Irish  prelate  and  philosopher.    Re- 

sided  at  Newport. 

11.  WILLIAM  ELLERY  CHANGING,  the  distinguished  Unitarian  divine. 

12.  CHRISTOPHER  GREEN,  a  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution. 

13.  ISAAC  P.  HODMAN,  a  Brigadier-General  of  Rhode  Island.    Fell  at  the  bat 

tle  of  Antietam. 

14.  Major-General  AMBROSE  E.  BTJRNSIDE.  A  full-length  portrait,  painted  from 

life,  by  E.  Leutze,  of  New  York. 

The  collection,  as  will  be  observed,  includes  men  of  all  ranks  and  professions, 
aud  affords  a  happy  illustration  of  the  tie  that  binds  together  the  varied  interests 
of  college  and  State.  Most  of  the  portraits  have  been  obtained  within  the  past 
five  years,  through  the  exertions  of  the  Hon.  J.  R.  Bartlett,  Secretary  of  State, 
to  whom  the  grateful  thanks  of  the  public  are  justly  due  for  his  generous  and 
philanthropic  labors.  An  enterprise  so  auspiciously  commenced  will,  we  trust, 
be  carried  on  from  year  to  year.  Many  portraits  are  still  wanting  to  add  com 
pleteness  to  the  collection. 

34 


398  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IX. 

judged  suitable,  and  several  having  been  applied  to  who  have  declined. 
The  want  of  some  officer  of  college  to  attend  the  place  of  the  institution, 
will,  I  fear,  be  a  disadvantage.  But  the  badness  of  the  pay  heretofore, 
and  the  scarcity  of  money,  the  paper  currency,  and  the  confused  state  of 
law  and  justice,  both  in  your  State  and  in  our  own,  where  the  scholars 
come  from,  arc  real  difficulties.  The  fact,  too,  that  the  students  are 
obliged  to  board  out,  instead  of  boarding  in  commons,  has  greatly  in 
creased  the  expenses.  Yet,  I  believe,  if  due  attention  is  paid  by  the  offi 
cers,  we  shall  have  many  students  in,  at  least  by  next  Commencement." 

TO    THE    EEV.    DR.    SMITH. 

PROVIDENCE,  Jan.  18,  1787. 
DEAR  SIR: 

Yours  of  the  15th  ult.  came  to  hand  a  few  days  ago.  Am  happy  to 
hear  of  your  welfare,  but  am  sorry  to  hear  of  Mrs.  Smith's  indisposition. 
Hope  it  has  proved  of  short  duration.  About  a  month  ago  I  was  seized 
with  a  violent  fit  of  the  bilious  colic,  which  confined  me  about  a  fortnight, 
and  threatened  my  life.  Through  divine  favor  I  am  happily  recovered, 
and  we  all  enjoy  usual  health.  The  town  is  generally  healthy.  Mr. 
Nicholas  Brown  has  lost  his  new-born  son.  Mr.  Jonathan  Jenckes  is 
married  to  the  widow  Bowers,  who  lived  across  the  way.  No  late  intelli 
gence  from  the  westward.  Trade  amongst  us  is  very  declining.  Brown 
and  Benson,  by  a  seizure  at  Surinam,  have  lost  about  four  thousand  dol 
lars,  and  Jenckes,  Winsor,  and  Co.  about  the  same  sum  by  the  like  means 
in  Virginia.  The  paper  money  of  this  State  has  run  down  to  six  for  one, 
notwithstanding  which  the  Legislature  continue  it  as  a  tender,  and  mean 
to  do  so,  and  to  pay  off  all  the  State  debts  with  it,  be  it  as  bad  as  it  may. 
At  the  last  session  I  petitioned  them  to  pay  my  advances,  and  the  re 
mainder  of  my  salary  as  delegate,  amounting  to  upwards  of  four  hun 
dred  dollars.  This  they  offered  to  do  in  their  paper,  but  in  no  other  way. 
Besides,  they  have  ordered  all  the  import  orders  brought  in  and  exchanged 
at  the  treasury  for  paper  at  par,  so  that  I  must  lose  five  sixths  of  my 
salary  so  paid  to  me.  A  more  infamous  set  of  men  under  the  character 
of  a  legislature,  never,  I  believe,  disgraced  the  annals  of  the  world. 
And  there  is  no  prospect  of  a  change  for  the  better.  Of  all  the  arrear 
ages  of  tuition  for  the  last  year,  and  the  quarter  advanced  in  this,  I  have 
not  received  ten  pounds.  I  was  taken  sick  the  day  after  the  second  great 
snow,  with  no  provisions  in  the  cellar  except  one  hundred-weight  of 
cheese,  two  barrels  of  cider,  and  some  potatoes ;  with  not  a  load  of  wood 


1786-1788.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 

at  my  door ;  nor  could  I  command  a  single  dollar  to  supply  these  wants. 
The  kindness  of  my  neighbors,  however,  kept  me  from  suffering.  But 
when  a  man  has  hardly  earned  money,  to  be  reduced  to  this  abject  state 
of  dependence  requires  the  exercise  of  more  grace  than  I  can  boast  of. 
I  feel  for  you  in  the  situation  which  you  mention,  but  it  is  a  very  trying 
time,  and  few  of  our  ministering  brethren  are  exempt  from  those  trials. 
Nor  would  it  probably  be  easy  for  you  to  better  yourself.  I  have  serious 
thought  of  removing  to  the  farm  at  the  Jerseys,  and  undertake  digging 
for  my  support.  Should  things  wear  the  same  unfavorable  aspect  next 
year,  I  believe  I  shall  make  the  experiment,  if  my  life  is  spared. 

The  college  consists  of  about  the  same  number  as  it  did  before  Com 
mencement,  but  the  delinquency  of  the  students  in  paying  their  bills 
must,  if  not  altered,  break  up  the  college,  as  the  affairs  cannot  be  sup 
ported,  especially  as  all  assistance  from  our  fund  is  cut  off,  if  indeed  it  is 
not  totally  annihilated,  which  I  greatly  fear  from  the  temper  of  the  times. 

I  completed  your  business  at  New  York,  I  believe,  agreeably  to  your 
wishes,  and  have  your  securities  and  papers  all  by  mo  ready  for  your 
commands,  but  I  did  not  choose  to  send  them  by  an  uncertain  convey 
ance.  You  mention  an  agreeable  journey  last  October,  but  don't  tell  me 
where.  I  think  with  you  that  there  is  something  godlike  in  preaching  to 
the  poor,  who  cannot  recompense  us ;  but  it  is  our  misfortune  to  be  so 
generally  of  that  number  that  we  can  only  contemplate  it.  I  supply  the 
pulpit  when  able,  but  have  had  no  application  from  the  church,  as  such, 
to  do  it.  Religion  is  extremely  low  with  us,  and  confusion  in  State  mat 
ters  seems  to  increase.  Please  to  present  my  best  respects  to  Mrs.  Smith 
and  family,  with  all  friends,  in  which  Mrs.  M.  joins. 

Sir,  yours,  etc., 

JAMES  MANNING. 

» 

The  language  of  Dr.  Manning,  as  here  applied  to  the 
Legislature  of  Rhode  Island,  may  seem  at  first  unnecessa 
rily  severe.  A  reference,  however,  to  Gov.  Arnold's  His 
tory,  and  to  our  biographical  sketch  of  Gen.  Varnum,  in 
his  forensic  effort  in  the  celebrated  case  of  Trevett  against 
Weeden  (page  98),  will  show  that  it  was  merited  and  just. 
This  perhaps  was  the  most  trying  period  of  Dr.  Manning's 
life.  That  he  should  have  had  serious  thoughts  of  engaging 
in  agriculture  for  a  support  is  by  no  means  surprising. 


400  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  IX. 

These,  however,  were  but  momentary,  and  soon  passe.d 
away.  Few  men,  with  powers  distracted  by  care,  and 
spirits  saddened  perhaps  by  a  want  of  the  comforts  and 
conveniences  of  life,  have  ever  labored  more  perseveringly, 
diligently,  and  cheerfully  for  the  welfare  of  others,  and  for 
the  public  good,  than  Manning. 

The  Commencement  for  1787  seems  to  have  been  one 
of  unusual  interest,  "  a  large,  polite,  and  crowded  assembly 
of  gentlemen  and  ladies  attending  upon  the  exercises, 
and  thus  doing  honor  to  the  day  and  themselves  by  en 
couraging  polite  literature,  and  those  useful  arts  which  are 
the  glory  of  civilized  countries."  Among  the  orations 
upon  this  occasion  was  one  by  Nathaniel  Lambert,  on 
"  The  Present  Appearance  of  Public  Affairs  in  the  United 
States  of  America — portraying  the  superior  advantages 
to  be  enjoyed  by  this  country,  and  the  public  happiness 
rationally  to  be  expected,  in  case  the  States  shall  harmo 
niously  agree  on  the  great  federal  measures  necessary  for  the 
good  of  the  whole,  whereon  the  convention  have  been  some 
time  deliberating  at  Philadelphia,  and  recommending  in 
dustry,  the  manufactures  of  our  country,  and  the  disuse 
of  foreign  goods ;  and  soliciting  the  fair  daughters  of 
America  to  set  the  patriotic  example  by  banishing  from 
their  dress  the  costly  gewgaws  and  articles  of  foreign  pro 
duction."  Doubtless  the  worthy  President  had  something 
to  do  with  the  selection  of  this  topic,  and  its  happy  treat 
ment. 

The  graduates  numbered  ten ;  at  the  head  of  whom,  on 
the  Triennial,  stands  the  name  of  Abner  Alden,  master 
of  the  famous  school  at  Rayuhain,  Mass.,  and  author  of 
the  "  Reader "  and  "  The  Spelling-book "  which  supplied 
our  ancestors  in  the  Old  Colony  with  the  "rudiments" 
half  a  century  ago.  Mr.  Alden  was  of  the  fifth  genera- 


1783-1788-  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  401 

tion  in  lineal  descent  from  John  Alden,  of  whom  and  Pris- 
cilla  Mullins  Longfellow  sings.  Among  them  too  we  no 
tice  Samuel  Eddy,1  for  many  years  a  Fellow  and  secretary 
of  the  corporation,  and  Jonathan  Maxcy,  President  Man 
ning's  successor  in  office.  Mr.  Maxcy2  delivered  a  poem 
on  the  prospects  of  America,  and  the  valedictory  oration. 

1  Hon.  Samuel  Eddy,  LL.D.,  was  born  iu  Johnston,  R.  I.,  March  31,  1769. 
After  his  graduation  he  read  lav/,  but  he  never  practised  it.    In  1798  he  was 
elected  by  the  people  of  Rhode  Island   Secretary  of  State,  which  office  he 
held  for  twenty-one  years  in  succession.      Resigning  the  secretaryship,  he  was 
elected,  for  three  terms,  from  1819  to  1825,  a  Representative  in  Congress-    Subse 
quently  he  was  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  of  Rhode 
Island,  which  position  he  occupied  for  eight  years,  when  ill  health  compelled 
him  to  resign.    He  died  February  3,  1839,  in  the  seventieth  year  of  his  age. 
Judge  Eddy  was  justly  respected  for  his  uprightness  and  intelligence,  and  for 
the  extent  and  variety  of  his  attainments.    He  was  no  debater,  says  Prof.  God- 
dard,  but  he  wrote  with  uncommon  purity,  accuracy,  and  force.    The  volumes 
of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  are  enriched  with  several  contributions 
from  his  pen.      He  was  thrice  married.    His  last  wife  was  Mrs.  Sarah  Dwight, 
widow  of  Gamaliel  Lyman  Dwight,  and  daughter  of  the  Hon.  David  Howell. 
She  survived  him  many  years,  dying  recently  at  an  advanced  age. 

2  Rev.  Jonathan  Maxcy,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Attleboro,  Mass.,  Sept.  2,  1768. 
Immediately  upon  graduating,  at  the  early  age  of  nineteen,  he  was  appointed 
tutor  in  the  college,  which  position  he  filled  with  great  acceptance  four  years, 
or  until  1791,  when  he  was  chosen  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church.     In  1792 
he  assumed  the  duties  of  the  presidency  of  the  college,  having  been  elected 
President  pro  tempore.      In  1797  he  was  formally  elected  President,  as  appears 
from  the  records  of  the  corporation.    "  The  splendor  of  his  genius,  and  his 
brilliant  talents  as  an  orator  and  divine,"  says  Dr.  Blake,  "  had  become  widely 
known;   and  under  his  administration  the  college  acquired  a  reputation  for 
belles-letters  and  eloquence  inferior  to  no  seminary  of  learning  in  the  United 
States/'    "  His  voice,"  says  the  Hon.  Tristam  Burgess,  one  of  his  most  devoted 
and  admiring  pupils,  "  seemed  not  to  have  reached  the  deep  tone  of  full  age; 
but  most  of  all  to  resemble  that  of  those  concerning  whom  the  Saviour  of  the 
world  said,  '  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.'    The  eloquence  of  Maxcy 
was  mental.    You  seemed  to  hear  the  soul  of  the  man;  and  each  one  of  the 
largest  assembly,  in  the  most  extended  place  of  worship,  received  the  slightest 
impulse  of  his  silver  voice  as  if  he  stood  at  his  very  ear.    So  intensely  would  he 
enchain  attention,  that  in  the  most  thronged  audience  you  heard  nothing  but 
him  and  the  pulsations  of  your  own  heart.    His  utterance  was  not  more  per 
fect  than  his  whole  discourse  was  instructive  and  enchanting." 

In  the  year  1802,  Dr.  Maxcy,  having  resigned  his  office,  was  appointed  Presi- 
34* 


402  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IX. 

The  fears  and  forebodings  of  Dr.  Manning  in  regard  to 
the  Confederation  proved  but  too  well  founded.  Not 
withstanding  the  efforts  of  the  wisest  statesmen,  it  was 
found  inefficient  to  promote  social  order,  and  all  those 
paramount  interests  which  it  is  the  design  of  government 
to  foster  and  protect.  Accordingly,  in  1787,  a  national 
convention  met  at  Philadelphia,  and  proposed  a  union  of 
the  States  upon  a  more  substantial  and  popular  basis,  in 
order  that  the  blessings  of  freedom  might  be  preserved. 
A  small  number  of  the  States  adopted  the  New  Constitu- 

clent  of  Union  College,  Schenectady,  N.  Y..  as  successor  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jona 
than  Edwards,  deceased.  In  reference  to  this  appointment,  we  find  in  Forsyth's 
Memoir  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  Proudfit  (pp.  55-59)  a  curious  and  interesting 
letter  from  the  llev.  J.  B.  Johnson,  then  of  Albany,  and  a  Trustee  of  the  col 
lege,  objecting  to  Maxcy  on  the  ground  of  his  being  a  Baptist,  and  hence  that 
his  influence  as  such  would  be  unpropitious  to  the  prosperity  of  the  institution, 
the  support  of  the  college  being  derived  chiefly  from  those  who  were  opposed 
to  the  Baptist  persuasion,  and  perhaps  had  no  inconsiderable  prejudice  against 
them.  Another  objection  was  that  he  appeared  to  the  writer  to  be  a  violent 
politician,  judging  from  a  Fourth-of-July  oration  delivered  by  him,  which 
had  been  praised  as  containing  some  very  brilliant  expressions  and  keen 
sarcasms  against  the  Anti-Federalists.  A  third  and  more  serious  objection, 
however,  was  the  unsoundness  of  his  theological  opinions,  of  which  the  follow 
ing  extract  from  the  preface  to  his  sermon  on  the  death  of  Manning,  republished 
in  June,  1796,  was  quoted  as  an  illustration :  "  The  only  thing  essential  to  Chris 
tian  union  is  love,  or  benevolent  affection.  It  is,  therefore,  with  me,  a  fixed 
principle  to  censure  no  man  except  for  immorality.  A  diversity  of  religious 
opinions,  in  a  state  so  imperfect,  obscure,  and  sinful  as  the  present,  is  to  be  ex 
pected.  An  entire  coincidence  in  sentiment,  even  in  important  doctrines,  is  by 
no  means  essential  to  Christian  society,  or  the  attainment  of  eternal  felicity. 
How  many  are  there,  who  appear  to  have  been  subjects  of  regeneration,  who 
have  scarcely  an  entire  comprehensive  view  of  one  doctrine  of  the  Bible?  Will 
the  gates  of  paradise  be  barred  against  these  because  they  did  not  possess  the 
penetrating  sagacity  of  an  Edwards  or  a  Hopkins?  Or  shall  these  great  theo 
logical  champions  engross  heaven,  and  shout  hallelujahs  from  its  walls,  while  a 
Priestley,  a  Price,  and  a  Winchester,  merely  for  difference  in  opinion,  though 
preeminent  in  virtue,  must  sink  into  the  regions  of  darkness  and  pain?  " 

Notwithstanding  these  objections,  Dr.  Maxcy,  as  we  have  already  stated,  was 
chosen  President  of  the  college.  Previous  to  this  event,  when  only  thirty- 
three  years  of  age,  Harvard  University  had  conferred  on  him  the  honorary  de 
gree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity,  such  was  his  celebrity  as  a  scholar  and  divine.  Here 


1780-1788.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  403 

tion,  so  called,  without  hesitation,  but  in  most  of  them  it 
met  with  great  opposition.  Especially  was  this  the  case 
in  Massachusetts,  where  the  Federalists  and  Anti-Feder 
alists,  as  the  friends  and  enemies  of  the  Constitution  were 
pleased  to  style  themselves,  were  nearly  equal  in  number. 
The  convention  for  the  adoption  or  rejection  of  this  im 
portant  instrument  met  at  Boston,  on  Wednesday,  the  9th 
of  January,  1788.  It  was  composed  of  nearly  four  hun 
dred  delegates,  representing  the  talent  and  patriotism  of 
the  ancient  commonwealth,  as  well  as  the  conflicting  in 
terests  of  opposing  parties.  The  debates  were  continued 
for  a  month,  and  attracted  the  most  profound  attention 
throughout  the  country.  Upon  the'  fate  of  the  Federal 
Constitution  here,  it  was  supposed,  depended  the  fate  of 
the  National  Government ;  or,  as  Manning  expresses  it, 

at  Schenectady  he  officiated  with  increasing  reputation  until  1804,  when  he  ac 
cepted  the  unsolicited  appointment  of  President  of  South  Carolina  College, 
with  the  fond  anticipation  of  finding  a  warmer  climate  more  congenial  to  his 
physical  constitution.  Over  this  latter  institution  he  presided,  with  almost 
unprecedented  popularity,  during  the  remainder  of  his  life,  lie  died  at  Colum 
bia,  S.  C.,  June  4,  1820,  aged  fifty-two  years. 

In  his  person  Dr.  Maxcy  was  small  of  stature,  but  of  a  fine  and  well-proportioned 
figure.  His  features,  says  his  biographer,  were  regular  and  manly,  indicating 
intelligence  and  benevolence,  and,  especially  in  conversation  and  public  speak 
ing  they  were  strongly  expressive.  Grace  and  dignity  were  also  combined  in 
all  his  movements.  His  writings,  or  "  Literary  Remains,"  edited  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Romeo  Elton,  were  published  in  1844,  in  a  handsome  octavo  volume.  Eight 
years  later  a  selection  from  his  '•'  Remains,"  consisting  of  collegiate  addresses, 
was  published  in  London,  making  a  pleasant  little  duodecimo  volume  of  one 
hundred  and  ninety-one  pages.  This  was  also  edited  by  Dr.  Elton.  Dr.  Maxcy 
was  married  to  Susan,  daughter  of  Commodore  Ezek  Hopkins,  of  Providence, 
a  name  intimately  associated  with  the  history  of  the  Revolution.  Besides  several 
daughters,  they  had  four  sons,  all  liberally  educated;  one  of  whom,  the  Hon. 
Virgil  Maxcy,  was  killed  by  the  explosion  of  a  gun  ou  board  the  United  States 
steamship  Princeton. 

No  painted  canvas  or  sculptured  marble  perpetuates  the  likeness  of  President 
Maxcy;  but  so  long,  says  Elton,  "  as  genius,  hallowed  and  sublimed  by  piety, 
shall  command  veneration,  he  will  be  remembered  in  his  country  as  a  star  of 
the  first  magnitude." 


404  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  IX. 

Massachusetts  was  considered  "the  hinge  on  which  the 
whole  must  turn."  As  an  evidence  of  the  deep  interest 
which  he  felt  in  this  momentous  question,  we  quote  from 
Mr.  Rowland's  Memoir  the  following  passage  :  — 

"  Dr.  Manning  was  extremely  solicitous  for  ratification.  He  viewed 
the  situation  of  the  country  with  all  the  light  of  a  statesman  and  a  phi 
losopher,  and  as  a  prudent  and  well-informed  citizen  he  took  his  mea 
sures  accordingly.  He  had  saved  the  college  funds  through  the  fluctua 
tions  and  storms  of  one  revolution,  and  he  now  saw  them  dissipated  and 
lost  forever,  unless  the  new  form  of  government  should  be  established. 
He  knew  that  several  clergymen  with  whom  he  was  connected  in  the 
bonds  of  religious  union  were  members  of  the  convention,  and  that  they 
were  generally  opposed  to  the  ratification.  He  therefore  repaired  to  Bos 
ton,  and  attended  the  debates  and  proceedings  of  the  convention.  His 
most  valued  and  intimate  friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stillman,  was  one  of 
the  twelve  representatives  of  the  town  of  Boston  in  the  convention,  and 
zealous  for  the  adoption  ;  and  in  their  freqiient  intercourse  with  their 
friends  who  were  members,  they  endeavored  to  remove  the  objections  of 

such  as  were  in  the  opposition With  the  Rev.  Isaac  Backus,  who 

was  a  delegate  from  the  town  of  Middleborough,  and  considered  one  of 
the  most  powerful  men  of  the  Anti-Federal  party,  they  were  not  able  to 
succeed.  The  question  of  ratification  was  finally  carried,  by  a  majority 
of  nineteen  (one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  yeas,  and  one  hundred  and 
sixty -eight  nays),  after  a  full  and  able  discussion.  The  writer  of  these 
sketches  well  recollects  the  cordial  congratulations  with  which  Dr.  Man 
ning  greeted  his  friends  on  the  decision  of  this  convention,  after  his  return 
from  Boston." 

In  connection  with  the  facts  stated  by  Howland,  we 
cannot  forbear  to  add  an  incident  mentioned  by  Dr.  Wa- 
terhouse,  which  we  find  quoted  by  Prof.  Goddard.  On  the 
last  day  of  the  session  of  the  convention,  and  before  the 
final  question  was  taken,  the  President,  Gov.  Hancock,  in 
vited  Dr.  Manning  to  "  close  the  solemn  convocation  witli 
thanksgiving  and  prayer."  Dr.  Manning,  though  taken 
by  surprise,  immediately  dropped  on  his  knees,  and  poured 


1786-1788.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  405 

out  his  heart  in  a  strain  of  exalted  patriotism  and  fervid 
devotion,  which  awakened  in  the  assembly  a  mingled  sen 
timent  of  admiration  and  awe.  The  impression  which  he 
made  must  have  been  extraordinary ;  for,  says  Dr.  Water- 
house,  who  dined  in  a  large  company,  after  the  adjourn 
ment,  "  the  praise  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Manning  was  in  every 
mouth.  Nothing  but  the  popularity  of  Dr.  Stillman  pre 
vented  the  rich  men  of  Boston  from  building  a  church  for 
Dr.  Manning's  acceptance." 

In  the  following  letter  Manning  alludes  to  his  attend 
ance  upon  the  debates  of  the  Massachusetts  Convention  :  — 


TO   THE    KEV.    DK.    SMITH. 

PROVIDENCE,  Feb.  11,  1788. 
To  THE  REV.  DK.  SMITH  : 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :  —  This  morning  was  handed  me  your  agreeable  favor 
of  the  30th  ult.  I  am  happy  to  hear  that  you  and  yours  enjoy  health  ; 
but  sorry  that  with  me  you  have  cause  to  complain  of  the  low  state  of 
religion.  To  be  useful,  is  and  must  be  the  wish  of  every  good  man;  but 
perhaps  we  may  not  always  be  the  most  competent  judges  of  our  useful 
ness.  God  may  be  doing  that  by  us,  which  we  little  think  of,  that  may 
redound  to  his  glory.  One  or  two,  I  hope,  have  lately  met  with  a  change 
amongst  us,  and  there  appears  a  greater  degree  of  attention  than  for  some 
time  past.  I  continue  still  to  preach  to  the  people  as  a  supply,  till  Mr. 
Stanford,  from  New  York,  arrives,  whom  the  church  and  congregation 
have  unanimously  chosen  their  pastor.  He  is  expected  as  soon  as  winter 
breaks.  He  paid  us  a  visit  at  the  invitation  of  the  committee  last  Christ 
mas,  and  spent  two  Lord's  Days  with  us  to  great  acceptance.  He  was  to 
have  been  with  us  by  the  middle  of  this  month,  but  had  a  three  weeks' 
passage  back.  Elder  Asa  Hunt  called  on  me  last  week  on  his  way  from 
Virginia,  where  he  has  been  for  several  months,  having  travelled  seven 
hundred  miles  in  that  State,  and  preached,  I  think,  seventy  times.  He 
brings  refreshing  tidings  of  the  work  of  the  Lord  there,  and  of  the  great 
increase  of  our  churches.  Two  most  agreeable  letters  I  received  from  re 
spectable  ministers  there,  of  whom  I  had  not  before  heard.  One  of  them 


406  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  IX. 

mentions  that  there  are  about  one  hundred  Baptist  churches  in  that  State, 
averaging  each  at  least  one  hundred  members.  Great  additions  are  daily 
making  to  them,  and  they  call  aloud  for  ministers  of  education.  I  never 
wanted  to  visit  that  country  so  much  as  now. 

The  college  continues  gradually  to  increase.  The  expense  of  boarding 
in  commons,  tuition,  room-rent,  and  library  and  apparatus  privileges, 
granting  one  fourth  of  the  year  for  vacations,  amounts  to  just  £20  5s.  9d. 
lawful  money  (about  sixty-eight  dollars)  at  present,  but  I  expect  the  com 
mons  will  be  lowered  as  soon  as  stability  in  government  takes  place,  —  a 
period  I  now  hope  not  far  distant.  Wood  is  about  twelve  shillings  per 
cord  ;  and  other  incidental  expenses  as  moderate  here,  or  more  so,  than  at 
Dartmouth.  Two  of  our  young  men  the  Commencement  before  were  at 
Dartmouth,  Gov.  Bowen's  son  and  Mr.  Nicholas  Brown's  son,  who  made 
particular  inquiry,  and  they  assure  me  that  the  expense  of  living  equally 
well  was  greater  there  than  here.  I  make  not  a  doubt  but  he  would  find 
his  account  in  coming  to  Providence,  and  we  should  be  happy  to  receive 
him  and  do  well  by  him.  I  hoped  to  have  more  particulars  of  your  last 
fall  tour.  The  reason  of  Brother  Gano's  leaving  New  York,  is  want  of 
an  adequate  support,  which  fails  through  the  opposition  of  a  certain  Mr. 
Robbins  and  his  adherents  in  that  church,  who  wish  to  govern  it  in  their 
own  way. 

I  felt  so  deeply  interested  in  the  adoption  of  the  new  Federal  Constitu 
tion  by  your  State,  that  I  attended  the  debates  in  convention  more  than 
a  fortnight,  and  expected  to  have  seen  you  at  Boston  on  that  occasion.  I 
considered  Massachusetts  the  hinge  on  which  the  whole  must  turn,  and  am 
happy  in  congratulating  you  on  the  favorable  issue  of  their  deliberations. 
I  am  mortified  to  find  Father  Alden  among  the  nays.  The  good  work  at 
New  London  and  its  vicinity,  I  am  told,  increases,  and  has  spread  to 
Norwich  ;  and  there  is  a  great  awakening  where  Grow  used  to  preach, 
and  in  Canada  Parish.  Please  to  present  my  best  respects  to  Mrs.  Smith 
and  family  and  other  friends,  in  which  Mrs.  Manning  joins  with,  dear  sir, 

Yours, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

From  this  time  Dr.  Manning  held  no  political  office,  al 
though  he  always  took  a  prominent  part  in  public  affairs, 
and  was  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  discussions  and  con 
troversies  of  the  day.  The  final  adoption  of  the  Federal 


1780-1788.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  407 

Constitution  by  the  people  of  Rhode  Island,  notwithstand 
ing  the  persistent  and  bitter  hostility  of  its  opponents, 
was  a  result  due  in  no  small  measure,  doubtless,  to  his  wise 
counsels  and  superior  influence.  We  present  his  corres 
pondence  for  the  remainder  of  the  year,  commencing  with 
a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rippon  of  London. 

LONDON,  Feb.  14,  1788. 
KEVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

I  have  but  a  few  minutes  to  spare  this  forenoon,  which  should  have 
been  devoted  to  your  service,  having  passed  in  company,  which  unexpect 
edly  has  detained  me.  However,  I  most  sincerely  thank  you  for  the  short 
but  comprehensive  sketch  of  religious  affairs  communicated  in  your  last 
of  September,  1787,  and  also  for  your  respectful  introduction  of  the  Selec 
tions1  at  the  Chelmsford  Association.  The  first  edition  of  three  thousand 
is  gone,  except  about  fifty  books,  and  the  second  edition,  I  hope,  will  be 
quite  printed  off  in  April  next.  In  case  it  meets  with  the  approbation  of 
our  American  brethren,  and  there  is  any  probability  of  its  spread,  would 
it  be  against  any  rule  of  your  Association  to  advertise  the  second  edition  ? 
I  have  mentioned  this  to  one  or  two  brethren  on  your  side  of  the  water. 
No  book  printed  in  any  time  has  had  so  rapid  a  sale  among  the  Baptists 
as  this. 

With  this  please  to  accept  a  pamphlet  or  two,  by  which  you  will  see  in 
some  measure  what  we  are  about  in  this  country.  The  three  denomina 
tions  of  Presbyterians,  Independents,  and  Anti-Pedobaptists  in  this  city  are 
united  together  by  a  political  bond.  We  met  about  a  week  since,  and  drew 
up  a  petition  to  Parliament  for  the  abolition  of  the  slave  trade.  The 
meeting  was  perfectly  unanimous.  We  fear  that  there  will  be  great  op 
position  to  the  petition,  but  we  hope  to  prevent  the  importation  of  any 
more  slaves,  from  Africa  at  least.  The  petitions  to  be  presented  by  clerical 
and  political  bodies  are  likely  to  be  numerous  and  very  general.  While 
so  many  thousands  are  nobly  engaged  in  this,  the  cause  of  humanity,  may 
you  succeed  in  your  own  peculiar  career,  distinguished  from  every  other 
by  a  "  glory  that  excelleth." 

1  "  A  Selection  qf  Hymns  from  the  best  authors,  intended  to  be  an  Appendix 
to  Dr.  Watts's  Psalms  and  Hymns.  By  John  Rippon,  A.M."  12mo.  London. 
Printed  by  Thos.  Wilkins ;  and  sold  on  weekdays  at  the  vestry  of  Mr.  Kippon's 
meeting-house.  1787. 


408  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IX. 

You  mention  the  number  of  sixty  students.  Of  what  advantage  may 
the  wise  and  good  among  these  be,  not  only  to  the  present  but  future  gen 
erations  !  Long  may  you  live,  and  under  your  auspices  may  the  college 
enjoy  your  felicity ;  and  in  a  remote  period,  when  the  public  prints  an 
nounce  that  Dr.  Manning  was,  may  it  be  said,  "He  shone  through  a 
long -lengthened  day,  the  ornament  and  boast  of  all  his  connections,  and 
then  set,  like  the  sun, to  rise  and  shine  forever." 

Indeed,  dear  sir,  I  do  feel  a  great  union  of  heart  to  you,  and  to  many 
of  our  brethren  on  your  side  of  the  Atlantic.  It  would  be  an  unutterable 
joy  were  it  in  my  power  to  do  them  any  service,  but  if  I  can  show  my 
love  to  them  no  other  way, 

"  My  soul  shall  pray  for  Zion  still, 
While  life  or  breath  remains ; 
There  my  best  friends,  my  kindred  dwell, 
There  God  my  Saviour  reigns." 

Mr.  Stillman's  account  of  Miss  Stillman's  death  was  very  affecting  and 
edifying.  How  plain  it  is  that  true  religion  is  produced  in  the  heart  of 
good  men  by  "  the  self-same  spirit  "  ! 

I  shall  rejoice  to  have  a  long  letter  from  you,  as  you  would  have  had 
from  me  but  for  the  reason  mentioned  before.  I  have  not  time  to  read 
this  scrawl,  but  I  should  suppress  some  of  the  first  emotions  of  my  mind, 
were  I  not  to  subscribe  myself  ever,  ever  very  affectionately, 

Your  obliged  brother  in  Christ, 

JOHN  KIPPON 

p.  g,  —  Please  to  remember  me  to  Doctor  Drowne.  I  hope  to  write 
him,  and  shall  be  very  glad  to  receive  a  line  from  him. 

TO   THE   REV.    THOMAS   USTICK,   PHILADELPHIA. 

PROVIDENCE,  Aug.  21, 1788. 
My  DEAR  BROTHER: 

Yours  of  June  10th  was  long  in  coming,  but  is  now  before  me.  I  am 
glad  to  hear  that  you  are  so  happily  restored  as  to  be  able  to  preach  to 
the  people,  but  sorry  that  you  have  reason  to  complain  of  the  low  state 
of  religion  amongst  you.  I  hope  you  may  see  better  days  in  Philadel 
phia.  It  is  a  complaining  time,  in  general,  among  ministers.  Perhaps 
they  themselves,  if  properly  engaged,  might  in  part  preVent  the  cause  of 
it.  My  own  difficulties,  I  know,  call  for  the  exercise  of  Christian  forti 
tude,  but  I  find  it  easier  to  talk  of  than  to  exercise  it.  I  thank  you,  how- 


178G-1788.  BROWN  UNIVERSITY. 


409 


ever,  for  the  just  remarks  contained  in  your  letter.  I  agree  with  you  that 
the  gospel  is  an  estimable  jewel,  which  we  cannot  too  highly  prize.  May 
we  be  properly  anointed  by  the  glorious  hopes  which  it  is  calculated  to 
inspire. 

Brother  Caleb  Blood,  of  Newtown,  is  the  person  whom  I  mentioned  to 
have  removed  to  Vermont.  Our  Brother  Joseph  Grafton,  of  this  town 
and  church,  is  ordained  and  settled  in  his  place,  whose  labors  appear  to 
be  owned  amongst  that  people.  He  was  here  last  week.  Elders  Backus, 
Hunt,  and  Williams  have  lately  visited  us,  who  are  well.  I  am  told  that 
there  is  a  happy  revival  at  Bridgewater,  under  the  ministry  of  Brother 
Eobinson.  Nothing  new  respecting  the  college  has  occurred  since  our 
last.  Possibly  I  may  see  you  this  fall  at  Philadelphia,  as  I  have  thoughts 
of  visiting  New  York.  Please  to  make  my  best  respects  to  Mrs.  Ustick 
and  the  family,  in  which  Mrs.  Manning  unites,  with,  dear  sir, 

Your  unworthy  brother, 
JAMES 


TO   THE   BEY.    DR.    SMITH. 

PROVIDENCE,  June  10,  1788. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

Yours  of  the  6th  inst.  came  to  hand  a  few  hours  since,  by  Mr.  Messer.1 
We  have  examined  and  entered  the  young  gentleman  into  the  Sophomore 
class,  though  he  had  not  read  quite  so  much  as  the  class.  His  abilities 

i  Rev.  Asa  Messer,  D.D.,  LL.D.  He  was  born  in  Methuen,  Mass.,  in  the  year 
1769.  His  father  was  a  farmer  on  the  banks  of  the  Merrimac.  At  the  age  of 
thirteen  he  left  the  town  school  in  his  native  place,  and  went  to  live  in  Haver- 
hill,  where  for  nearly  a  year  he  was  clerk  in  a  wholesale  grocery  store.  Having 
given  up  his  clerkship,  he  studied  for  a  short  time  under  the  instruction  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Hezekiah  Smith,  and  then  finished  his  preparation  for  college  at 
Windham,  New  Hampshire.  He  graduated  in  1790.  Soon  afterwards  he  be 
came  interested  in  religious  truth,  was  baptized,  and  received  into  the  fellow 
ship  of  the  church  in  Providence,  of  which  Dr.  Maxcy  was  then  pastor.  By 
this  church  he  was,  in  1792,  licensed  to  preach,  and  in  1801  he  received  ordina 
tion.  He  was  elected  a  tutor  of  the  college'in  1791,  and  remained  in  this  office 
till  he  was  elected,  in  1796,  Professor  of  the  Learned  Languages.  In  1799  he 
was  appointed  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy;  and  this 
station  he  continued  to  hold  until  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Maxcy,  in  1802,  when 
he  was  chosen  President.  For  twenty-four  years  he  presided  over  the  affairs 
of  the  college;  diligently  and  efficiently  participating  in  the  duties  of  instruc 
tion,  and  supervising,  with  no  common  practical  sagacity,  its  disordered  finan 
ces.  In  1826  he  resigned  the  office  of  President.  Possessing,  says  his  biographer, 
35 


410  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  IX. 

and  proficiency  appear  very  good  ;  and  from  your  commendation  of  him 
we  hope  the  will  do  well.  Am  obliged  to  you  for  your  interest  in  for 
warding  him. 

I  rejoice  to  hear  of  the  Lord's  work  at  Byfield  and  Rowley.  Hope  it 
may  become  universal.  Then  Haverhill  and  Providence  will  receive  a 

a  handsome  competence,  the  fruit  in  part  of  his  habitual  frugality,  he  was  en 
abled  to  pass  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  the  enjoyment  of  independent  leisure. 
After  his  retirement  from  collegiate  toils,  his  fellow-citizens  of  Providence 
elected  him,  for  several  years,  to  responsible  municipal  trusts ;  and  these  trusts 
he  discharged  with  his  characteristic  punctuality  and  uprightness.  He  died 
October  11, 1836,  in  the  sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age. 

Dr.  Messer  was  married  to  Deborah  Angell,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  a 
son  that  died  in  infancy,  and  three  daughters.  The  youngest  daughter  was 
married  to  the  late  Hon.  Horace  Mann,  and  the  second  to  Sidney  Williams,  Esq., 
of  Taunton,  Mass.  Mr.  Williams  now  resides  on  the  paternal  estate.  The  eldest 
daughter  was  never  married. 

Dr.  Messer's  "  religious  opinions,"  says  Prof.  Goddard,  "  especially  for  the  last 
twenty  years  of  his  life,  corresponded  nearly  to  those  of  the  General  Baptists 
of  England.  He  was  a  strenuous  advocate  for  the  supremacy  of  the  Scriptures, 
and  for  their  entire  sufficiency  in  matters  of  faith  and  practice.  As  a  preacher, 
he  wanted  the  attractive  graces  of  elocution ;  but  he  never  failed  to  address  to 
the  understanding  and  the  conscience  the  most  clear  and  cogent  exhibitions  of 
the  great  practical  truths  of  the  Bible.  For  what  is  termed  polite  literature  he 
had  no  particular  fondness,  but  he  was  a  good  classical  scholar,  and  was  well 
versed  in  the  mathematics  and  the  several  branches  of  natural  philosophy.  In 
moral  science,  also,  we  have  known  few  better  reasoners  or  more  successful 
teachers.  In  fine,  Dr.  Messer  was  remarkable  rather  for  the  vigor  than  the 
versatility  of  his  powers;  rather  for  solid  acquirement  than  for  captivating 
embellishments;  rather  for  wisdom  than  for  wit;  rather  for  grave  processes  of 
ratiocination  than  for  the  airy  frolics  of  fancy.  In  1824  he  received  from 
Harvard  University  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  having  previ 
ously  received  the  same  degree  from  his  ALMA  MATER,  and  that  of  Doctor  of 
Laws  from  the  University  of  Vermont." 

"  I  cannot  remember,"  says  the  Eev.  Dr.  E.  A.  Park,  in  a  recent  letter  which 
he  furnished  for  Sprague's  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit,  "the  time  when  I 
was  not  familiar  with  the  countenance  of  President  Messer.  Before  I  entered 
college  I  saw  him  every  week,  and  while  I  was  a  member  of  college  I  saw  him 
every  day;  and  no  one  who  has  ever  seen  him  can  ever  forget  him.  His  indi 
viduality  was  made  unmistakable  by  his  physical  frame.  This,  while  it  was 
above  the  average  height,  was  also  in  breadth  an  emblem  of  the  expansiveness 
of  his  mental  capacity.  A  '  long  head '  was  vulgarly  ascribed  to  him,  but  it 
was  breadth  that  marked  his  forehead;  there  was  an  expressive  breadth  in  his 
maxillary  bones ;  his  broad  shoulders  were  a  sign  of  the  weight  which  he  was 
able  to  bear;  his  manner  of  walking  was  a  noticeable  symbol  of  the  reach  of 


1786-1788.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  411 

blessing.  Am.  surprised  that  mine  in  answer  to  yours  of  March  17,  and 
every  other  I  have  received,  has  not  reached  you.  I  have  been  punctual 
in  writing,  and  giving  you  all  the  information  I  could.  Our  wicked  State 
has  rejected  the  Constitution  by  the  town  meetings  to  which  the  Legisla 
ture  sent  it,  instead  of  complying  with  the  recommendation  of  the  Gen 
eral  Convention.  Our  rulers  are  deliberately  wicked,  but  the  people  of 
some  of  the  towns  begin  to  wake  up  since  South  Carolina  has  adopted 
the  new  Constitution,  and  Massachusetts  has  so  effectually  crushed 
Shayism.  My  visit  to  New  York  was  very  short  and  full  of  business,  so 
that  I  did  not  go  to  visit  one  of  my  brothers  or  sister,  though  I  was  at 
the  Plains.  My  object  was  to  assist  Brother  Gano  off  for  Kentucky, 
which  took  up  all  my  time.  I  heard  from  none  of  your  friends.  Indeed, 
I  had  no  opportunity.  Mr.  Gano  with  his  family  left  the  Plains  the  first 
Wednesday  in  May.  Many  families  of  his  people,  Mr.  Van  Horn's 
and  Mr.  Hart's,  are  gone  also,  and  more  are  proposing.  A  surprising 
spirit  of  emigration  prevails  there.  The  church  at  New  York  are  with 
out  a  supply,  and  probably  will  be  for  a  time.  Mr.  Stanford  is  still  very 
acceptable  to  all  evangelical  hearers.  The  house  is  pretty  full,  but  he 
meets  with  some  trials.  Two  weeks  ago  Mr.  Alison  of  Bordcntown  paid 
us  a  visit,  and  entered  a  young  gentleman  in  the  Junior  Class. 

The  college  has  more  students  than  ever  it  had  ;  consequently  my  ser 
vices  are  greater  than  ever.  Our  oldest  tutor,  Bobbins,  has  been  unable 
to  do  any  duty  since  last  December,  and  is  gone  to  Connecticut,  five  weeks 
since,  from  whom  we  have  had  no  certain  accounts.  I  doubt  his  ever 
being  well  again,  or  taking  his  place  in  college.  So  you  see  I  must  deny 
myself  the  pleasure  of  attending  the  New  Hampshire  Association.  The 
state  of  religion  in  York  is  not  as  promising  as  in  times  past.  Near 

his  mind ;  ho  swung  his  cane  far  and  wide  as  he  walked,  and  no  observer  would 
doubt  that  he  was  an  independent  man;  he  gesticulated  broadly  as  he  preached; 
his  enunciation  was  forcible,  now  and  then  overwhelming,  sometimes  shrill, 
but  was  characterized  by  a  breadth  of  tone  and  a  prolonged  emphasis  which 
added  to  its  momentum,  and  made  an  indelible  impress  on  the  memory.  His 
pupils,  when  they  had  been  unfaithful,  trembled  before  his  expansive  frown, 
as  it  portended  a  rebuke  which  would  well-nigh  devour  them ;  and  they  felt  a 
dilating  of  the  whole  soul  when  they  were  greeted  with  his  good  and  honest 

and  broad  smile As  a  son,  brother,  husband,  father,  he  was  the  central 

object  of  attraction,  and  the  beams  of  joy  and  love  uniformly  radiated  from 
him  over  all  the  inmates  of  his  happy  home." 

It  is  exceedingly  to  be  regretted  that  no  portrait  or  engraving  exists  to  per 
petuate  the  likeness  of  this  remarkable  man. 


412  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  IX. 

Peekskill  and  higher  up  it  flourishes,  and  so  it  does  in  the  Jerseys  under 
the  ministry  of  Brother  Wilson.  The  York  church  has  sent  out  a  flam 
ing  young  preacher,  Tommy  Montague,  who  outshines  us  all  they  say. 
I  think  the  church  at  York  have  some  thoughts  of  Brother  Foster  at 
Newport,  and  he  of  them.  He  visits  them  by  request  in  July.  My  spring 
letters  from  London  bring  nothing  of  importance  now,  except  the  com 
pletion  of  the  second  edition  of  Mr.  Booth's  treatise  on  Baptism,  which 
is  much  enlarged.  I  have  not  perused  it.  My  best  love  to  Mrs.  Smith 
and  family,  in  which,  as  well  as  to  yourself  and  all  friends,  Mrs.  Man 
ning  cordially  unites  with,  dear  sir, 

Yours,  etc., 

JAMES  MANNING. 

The  Commencement  for  this  year  occurred  on  "Wed 
nesday,  Sept.  3.  As  the  day,  says  the  passing  record, 
was  fine,  so  the  concourse  of  people  was  prodigious.  The 
procession — composed  of  the  corporation  and  the  officers, 
o'f  the  graduates  and  the  students,  of  the  clergy  and  other 
literati,  from  abroad  in  greater  numbers  than  ever  attended 
here  before  —  began  in  the  usual  order  at  college,  about 
eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  was  escorted  by  the 
gallant  company  of  artillery  commanded  by  Col.  Tilling- 
hast  to  the  Baptist  meeting-house.  In  looking  over  the 
order  of  exercises  on  this  occasion,  we  notice,  besides  the 
salutatory  oration  in  Latin,  an  oration  in  Hebrew  on  the 
eloquence  of  the  Scriptures,  an  oration  in  French  on  let 
ters  in  general,  an  oration  in  Greek  on  the  importance  of 
encouraging  genius,  a  dialogue  in  blank  verse  on  the  sit 
uation  and  prospects  of  America,  and  a  comic  dialogue  to 
ridicule  false  learning.  As  was  the  custom  at  all  the  ear 
lier  Commencements  of  the  college,  the  exercises  were  con 
tinued  through  the  day,  with  a  recess  at  noon.  The  vale 
dictory  oration  was  pronounced  by  Amos  Maine  Atwell, 
of  Providence.  Among  those  who  graduated  on  this  oc- 


1786-1788.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  413 

casion,  was  James  Burrill,1  who  for  sixteen  years  was  suc 
cessively  elected,  amid  all  the  vicissitudes  and  competi 
tions  of  party,  to  the  responsible  office  of  Attorney  Gen 
eral  of  Rhode  Island,  and  who  was  afterwards  a  member 
of  the  United  States  Senate. 

FROM   THE   REV.    MORGAN   EDWARDS. 

PHILADELPHIA,  Aug.  18,  1788. 
MY  OLD  ACQUAINTANCE  : 

I  am  now  thinking  how  long  it  is  since  you  and  I  have  seen  each  oth 
er's  face  or  perused  each  other's  letters  ;  and  what  the  reason  is,  and 
whose  fault  (if  a  fault)  it  is.  But  as  the  inquiry  hardly  deserves  a  de 
cision,  I  let  all  pass  in  silence,  that  I  may  proceed  to  inquire  after  your 
present  state  of  health.  I  hope  this  will  find  you  in  a  comfortable  situa 
tion  ;  at  least  I  wish  it  may.  I  feel  as  well  and  as  strong  as  an  old  man 
of  sixty-seven  years  can  expect  to  be. 

Some  years  ago  I  sent  you  a  manuscript ;  whether  you  received  it  or 
not  I  cannot  say.  It  was  a  collection  of  some  historical  facts  relative  to 
the  Baptists.  If  you  have  the  book,  please  return  it  to  me  as  soon  as  con- 
veniency  offers.  Herewith  I  send  you  a  small  piece  newly  published. 
Your  remarks  upon  it  will  be  interesting  to  me  as  an  editor,  especially 
if  it  should  pass  through  another  edition. 

My  love  and  good  wishes  attend  you  and  yours. 

M.  EDWARDS. 

1  Hon.  James  Burrill,  LL.D.,  was  born  in  Providence,  iu  1772.  He  was  prepared 
for  college  by  William  Wilkinson,  Esq.,  then  an  eminent  classical  and  mathe 
matical  teacher  in  that  town.  He  graduated  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen,  and 
after  completing  his  professional  studies  commenced,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  the 
practice  of  the  law  in  his  native  town.  So  rapid  was  his  rise  at  the  bar,  that, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  he  was  elected  by  the  people  to  the  office  of  Attorney 
General,  and  this  office  he  continued  to  hold  for  about  sixteen  years,  until  bod 
ily  infirmity  compelled  him  to  retire  from  the  bar.  In  1816  he  was  elected  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Rhode  Island,  and  a  few  months  afterwards 
a  Senator  in  Congress.  He  attended  only  four  sessions  of  that  body,  —  his  val 
uable  life  having  been  prematurely  terminated  by  a  pulmonary  disease,  Dec.  25, 
1820,  in  the  forty-ninth  year  of.  his  age.  "  During  his  short  career  in  Congress," 
says  Prof.  Goddard,  "  Mr.  Burrill  won  for  himself  a  very  high  rank.  To  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States  there  perhaps  never  had  belonged  a  more  useful 
legislator  or  a  more  practical  statesman.  All  who  knew  Mr.  Burrill  marvelled 

35* 


414  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  IX. 

FROM   THE   REV.    DR.    EVANS. 

DOWN  END,  NEAR  BRISTOL,  Sept.  20,  1788. 
DEAR  SIR: 

As  a  memorial  of  my  friendship,  and  some  slight  atonement  for  former 
neglects,  I  write  you  this  billet  by  my  dear  Brother  and  Sister  Mullett, 
to  thank  you  for  your  former  attentions  to  the  first,  and  to  commend  them 
both  to  your  further  notice.  Our  anxieties  and  emotions  at  parting  with 
those  we  have  so  much  reason  to  love,  and  especially  with  a  sister  en 
deared  to  us  from  her  earliest  infancy  by  every  quality  that  can  render 
any  character  truly  respectable  and  truly  amiable,  are  not  to  be  de 
scribed.  But  we  cast  all  our  care  on  that  God  who  careth  for  all  those 
who  trust  in  him,  and  has  promised  not  to  leave  nor  forsake  them. 

I  enclose  you  a  few  Association  letters,  etc.,  which  may  give  you  more 
information  than  I  have  leisure  to  communicate.  Dr.  Stennett's  Sermons 
on  the  Parable  of  the  Sower  you  have  doubtless  seen.  They  are  truly 
excellent,  as  giving  the  best  instructions  to  preachers  as  well  as  hearers. 
I  would  also  recommend  to  your  notice  Dr.  Priestley's  Lectures  on  His 
tory,  as  the  best  book  on  that  interesting  subject  I  ever  met  with.  If  I 
can  I  will  herewith  send  it,  and  beg  your  acceptance  of  it  for  the  library 
of  your  college.  I  wish  also  to  acquaint  you  with  the  reasons  we  have  to 
expect  soon  a  capital  history  of  the  Baptists,  by  William  Robinson  of 
Cambridge,  and  if  possible,  will  get  some  of  his  letters  to  me  on  that  sub 
ject  transcribed  for  that  purpose. 

It  gives  me  no  small  concern  to  find  your  government  making  so  dis 
graceful  a  figure  amongst  the  other  sister  States.  Surely,  if  they  knew 
how  foreigners  look  upon  them,  they  Avould  blush.  I  should,  however, 
have  scarcely  ventured  to  say  this,  if  I  could  not  have  added  that  I  am 
happy  to  find  the  town  of  New  Providence  shines  forth  as  a  luminous 
spot  upon  this  dark  mass,  and  appears  the  brighter  for  the  darkness  which 
surrounds  it. 

What  shall  I  say  to  tempt  you  to  renew  a  correspondence  you  have 

at  the  opulence  of  his  resources,  and  at  his  power  to  command  them  at  pleasure. 
In  the  operations  of  his  mind  there  was  no  indication  of  excess,  of  feebleness, 
or  of  confusion.  On  the  contrary,  he  was  always  judicious,  luminous,  and  for 
cible  —  master  of  an  infinite  variety  of  facts  and  principles,  and  ever  ready  in 
applying  them.  He  seldom  wrote,  although  he  was  capable  of  writing  well; 
and  it  is  sad  to  think  that  his  fame,  as  a  lawyer  and  as  a  statesman,  must  soon 
become  only  a  matter  of  dim  traditionary  recollection." 


1786-1788.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  415 

hitherto  found  so  fruitless  ?  May  I  not  remind  you  that  it  is  more  blessed 
to  give  than  to  receive  ?  And  you  have  much  to  give  which  will  be  thank 
fully  received,  though  you  may  receive  little  or  nothing  in  return.  I  shall 
also  be  glad  to  hear  of  the  general  state  of  religion  in  America,  of  the 
progress  of  civilization,  etc.,  etc.,  in  Kentucky,  the  prosperity  of  the  Bap 
tist  college,  the  health  and  usefulness  of  its  worthy  President,  etc.  And 
you  may  possibly,  now  my  connections  with  America  are  so  tender,  find 
me  a  more  punctual,  if  not  a  more  intelligent  correspondent  than  I  have 
hitherto  been.  Dr.  Priestley's  writings  in  the  theological  line  you  are 
probably  no  stranger  to,  and  surely  he  has  gone  to  the  ne  plus  ultra  of  her 
esy.  Further  he  cannot  go  and  retain  the  name  of  Christian,  for  the  sub 
stance  of  Christianity  he  has  long  since  discarded.  I  am  preaching  a  few 
sermons  on  the  atonement,  in  opposition  to  his  strange,  unsupported 
notions.  Such  doctrines  cannot  long  prevail.  They  have  no  internal 
energy. 

I  have  heard  an  excellent  character  of  the  son  of  the  late  Jonathan  Ed 
wards.     Can  you  give  me  any  anecdotes  respecting  him  ? 

I  remain,  dear  sir,  with  every  wish  the  sincerest  friendship  can  dictate 
for  you  and  your  family  and  extensive  connections, 

Your  affectionate  friend  and  brother, 

CALEB  EVANS. 

p.  s. I  write  this  in  haste,  at  a  country  retreat  four  miles  from  town, 

and  have  not  my  papers  with  me,  or  I  would  make  a  regular  acknowl 
edgment  of  your  repeated  favors  before  and  since  the  safe  arrival  of  the 
books. 

I  had  like  to  have  forgot  to  say,  do  you  want  a  good  linguist  to  as 
sist  in  the  college  or  grammar  school  with  you,  or  to  send  to  Kentucky  ? 
A  young  man  of  this  description  left  our  academy  last  vacation,  who, 
having  few  friends  here,  and  a  very  slender  voice,  which  is  a  bar  to  his 
popularity,  seems  willing  to  go  abroad  could  he  have  any  encouragement. 
He  is  a  good  young  man,  has  very  tolerable  talents  as  a  preacher,  and  is 
an  excellent  mechanical  scholar  in  Latin,  Greek,  Hebrew,  Syriac,  and  has 
some  knowledge  of  the  first  rudiments  of  the  mathematics.  He  is  defi 
cient  in  a  general  course  of  knowledge  and  reading,  but  habituated  to  dil 
igence,  and  very  capable  of  improvement.  I  should  have  kept  him  here 
another  year,  had  not  some  particular  circumstances  prevented  it.  I 
really  think  he  might  be  an  important  acquisition  in  such  a  department 
as  I  have  mentioned,  and  I  am  persuaded  he  would  come  over  upon  very 
moderate  encouragement. 


416  MANNING  AND  CHAP.  IX. 

TO    THE   REV.    DR.    SMITH. 

PROVIDENCE,  Dec.  17,  1788. 
DEAR  SIR: 

Yours  of  the  25th  ult.  came  safe  to  hand.  Am  sorry  for  and  sympa 
thize  with  you  in  your  trials,  but  God  means  them  for  good  to  you ;  though 
we  are  impatient,  oftentimes,  under  the  salutary  discipline  of  a  heavenly 
parent.  I  cannot  bear  to  think  of  your  leaving  Haverhill.  I  hope  God 
has  work  for  you  to  do  there  yet,  and  is  now  preparing  you  for  it.  I 
should  be  sorry  should  you  come  to  a  resolution  of  taking  your  son  from 
college.  I  hope  you  may  yet  see  a  brighter  sky,  which  will  encourage  you 
to  proceed.  The  conduct  of  the  people  I  doubt  not  is  trying.  You  did 
well  in  not  being  precipitate.  We  must  let  our  moderation  be  known,  and 
indeed  we  need  much  of  it.  I  hope  you  meet  with  success  in  the  petition  to 
the  House  of  New  Hampshire,  but  fear,  as  their  session  was  so  short,  they 
did  not  take  that  up  ;  if  not,  I  hope  they  will  when  they  meet  next.  Am 
glad  to  hear  that  things  were  agreeable  at  Mr.  Wood's  settlement  at  Ware. 
I  hope  he  will  prove  a  blessing  to  them.  I  think  him  a  valuable  man. 

The  abridgment  of  Dr.  Gill,  through  the  scarcity  of  money,  is  stopped 
for  the  present,  as  very  little  encouragement  has  yet  been  given  for  the 
work.  Dr.  Jones  himself  does  not  expect  it  will  go  on,  and  the  money 
which  was  put  into  my  hands  for  that  purpose  I  have  returned  long  since. 
Thus  endetk  that  lesson. 

Your  son,  I  think,  wants  a  little  more  stability ;  he  seems  to  fluctuate 
too  much.  Upon  giving  him  your  letter  to  me  to  read,  he  seemed  to  con 
clude  he  is  not  likely  to  come  to  college  any  more.  Instability  is  natural 
to  young  minds,  but  it  may  be  checked  in  some  degree  by  proper  culture ; 
and  a  parent  greatly  beloved  can  accomplish  this  the  best.  Mr.  Stanford 
has  hinted  to  the  people  that  they  are  not  to  expect  his  stay  after  the 
expiration  of  the  term  agreed  on  ;  but  the  committee  have  within  a  few 
days  past  had  two  meetings,  the  last  of  which  was  with  him,  and  are  de 
termined  to  use  their  influence  to  prevent  it.  With  sentiments  of  esteem, 
and  love  to  Mrs.  Smith,  in  which  Mrs.  Manning  joins,  I  am,  etc., 

JAMES  MANNING. 

It  seems  proper  in  this  chapter,  which  illustrates  more 
particularly  Dr.  Manning's  political  character  and  life,  to 
give  some  account  of  his  efforts  in  behalf  of  popular  edu 
cation. 


1786-1788. 


BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  417 


The  late  Samuel  Thurber,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  Judge 
Staples,  which  we  find  in  his  Annals  of  Providence,  says 
of  schools,  that,  "  previous  to  about  the  year  1770,  they 
were  but  little  thought  of.  There  were,"  he  says,  "  in  my 
neighborhood,  three  small  schools,  with  perhaps  a  dozen 
scholars  in  each.  Their  books  were  the  Bible,  spelling- 
book,  and  primer.  One  kept  by  John  Foster,  Esq.,  in  his 
office  ;  one  by  Dr.  Benjamin  West.  Their  fees  were  seven 
shillings  and  sixpence  per  quarter.  One  kept  by  George 
Taylor,  Esq.,  for  the  church  scholars.  He,  it  was  said,  re 
ceived  a  small  compensation  from  England.  Besides  these 
there  were  two  or  three  women  schools.  When  one  had 
learned  to  read,  write,  and  do  a  sum  in  the  rule  of  three, 
he  was  fit  for  business."  "  The  Rev.  James  Manning,"  Mr. 
Thurber  remarks  in  another  place,  "  did  great  things  in  the 
way  of  enlightening  and  informing  the  people.  Schools 
revived  by  means  of  his  advice  and  assistance.  Previous 
to  him  it  was  not  uncommon  to  meet  with  those  who 
could  not  write  their  names." 

The  leading  facts  pertaining  to  the  history  of  popular 
education  in  Providence  are  given  by  Judge  Staples. 
That  Manning  was  prominent  in  all  efforts  made  in  his 
day  for  the  improvement  of  society  and  the  public  good, 
is  evident  from  the  tenor  of  his  life  and  correspondence 
thus  far.  He  was  a  member  of  the  school  committee  of 
the  town,  and  for  many  years  the  chairman.  One  of  the 
last  acts  of  his  life  was  to  draw  up  a  report  in  favor  of  the 
establishment  of  free  public  schools,  which  report  was  pre 
sented  at  an  adjourned  town  meeting  held  in  the  State 
House,  Monday,  Aug.  1,  1791,  only  two  days  after  the 
author  had  been  followed  to  the  tomb.  We  shall  be  par 
doned  if  we  give  an  extract  from  this  valuable  report, 
which,  although  not  carried  into  immediate  execution,  was 


418  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  IX. 

cordially  received  and  adopted  at  the  time,  and  which, 
doubtless,  paved  the  way  for  the  introduction,  a  few  years 
later,  of  the  present  free-school  system  of  Providence. 

It  seems  that,  at  the  annual  town  meeting  in  June,  a  pe 
tition  had  been  presented,  praying  that  a  sufficient  number 
of  schoolmasters  be  appointed  to  instruct  all  the  children 
in  town  at  the  public  expense  ;  which  petition  was  referred 
to  the  school  committee,  of  which  Manning  was  chairman, 
with  instructions  to  report  thereon  at  an  adjourned  meet 
ing.  The  report  thus  begins  :  — 

"  To  the  freemen  of  the  town  of  Providence,  to  be  convened  next  by  ad 
journment,  the  underwritten  members  of  your  school  committee,  in 
pursuance  of  your  resolution  at  your  last  meeting,  report :  — 
After  the  most  deliberate  and  mature  consideration  of  the  subject,  we 
are  clearly  of  opinion  that  the  measure  proposed  by  the  petitioners  is  eli 
gible,  for  many  reasons. 

1 .  Useful  knowledge,  generally  diffused  among  the  people,  is  the   sur 
est  means  of  securing  the  rights  of  man,  of  promoting  the  public  pros 
perity,  and  perpetuating  the  liberties  of  a  country. 

2.  As  civil  community  is  a  kind  of  joint  tenancy  in  respect  to  the 
gifts  and  abilities  of  individual  members  thereof,  it  seems  not  improper 
that  the  disbursements  necessary  to  qualify  those  individuals  for  useful 
ness  should  be  made  from  common  funds. 

3.  Our  lives  and  properties,  in  a  free  state,  are  so  much  in  the  power 
of  our  fellow-citizens,  and  the  reciprocal  advantages  of  daily  intercourse 
are  so  much  dependent  on  the  information  and  integrity  of  our  neighbors, 
that  no  wise  man  can  feel  himself  indifferent  to  the  progress  of  useful 
learning,  civilization,  and  the  preservation  of  morals  in  the  community 
where  he  resides. 

4.  The  most  reasonable  object  of  getting  wealth,  after  our  own  wants 
are  supplied,  is  to  benefit  those  who  need  it ;  and  it  may  with  great  pro 
priety  be  demanded,  in  what  way  can  those  whose  wealth  is  redundant 
benefit  their  neighbors  more  certainly  and  permanently  than  by  furnish 
ing  to  their  children  the  means  of  qualifying  them  to  become  good  and 
useful  citizens,  and  of  acquiring  an  honest  livelihood  ? 

5.  In  schools  established  by  public  authority,  and  whose  teachers  are 


1786-1788. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  419 


paid  by  the  public,  there  will  be  reason  to  hope  for  a  more  faithful  and 
impartial  discharge  of  the  duties  of  instruction,  as  well  as  of  discipline 
among  the  scholars,  than  can  be  expected  when  the  masters  are  depend 
ent  on  individuals  for  their  support." 

The  report  goes  on  to  recommend  that  the  "  Brick 
Schoolhouse  "  and  "  Whipple  Hall "  be  purchased  of  the 
proprietors,  and  that  two  additional  houses  be  erected,  one 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  It  also  recommends  that 
the  four  schools  thus  established  be  under  the  care  and 
supervision  of  the  school  committee,  who  shall  appoint  the 
necessary  instructors.  It  is  signed  by  James  Manning, 
Enos  Hitchcock,  Moses  Brown,  Joseph  Snow,  Moses  Bad 
ger,  Jabez  Bowen,  David  Ho  well,  Benjamin  Bourn,  John 
Dorrance,  Theodore  Foster,  and  Welcome  Arnold.  Prov 
idence,  July  (seventh  month),  1791.  Although,  as  we 
have  already  stated,  this  report  was  adopted,  its  provisions 
were  not  carried  into  effect  until  the  year  1800,  when  the 
General  Assembly  passed  their  first  act  in  relation  to  free 
schools,  in  accordance  with  a  petition  to  this  effect  from 
the  Providence  Association  of  Mechanics  and  Manufactur 
ers,  drawn  up  and  presented  by  John  Howland.  On  the 
last  Monday  in  October,  1800,  four  schools  were  opened 
in  Providence,  under  the  most  favorable  auspices. 


CHAPTER    X. 

1789-1791. 

Letter  from  Rev.  Dr.  Gordon,  illustrating  his  political  views,  and  his  position 
in  England  as  the  historian  of  the  American  war  —  Manning  appointed  to 
draft  and  present  to  Congress  a  petition  in  behalf  of  Rhode  Island  — Address 
to  the  Graduating  Class  of  1789 — Jeremiah  B.  Howell  —  James  Feuner — 
Manning's  customary  charge  to  candidates  for  the  ministry  —  Letter  to  Rev. 
Abraham  Booth  — Booth's  reply  — Letter  from  Rev.  Dr.  Evans  — Letter  to 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  —  Religious  interest  in  Providence  —  Tutor  Flint—  Final  adop 
tion  of  the  Federal  Constitution  in  Rhode  Island  —  George  Washington's  visit 
to  Providence — Reception  at  the  College — Address  of  President  Manning 
in  behalf  of  the  Corporation  —  Washington's  reply  —  Commencement  for 
1790  —  Moses  Brown  —  Degree  of  LL.D.  conferred  on  Washington  —  Anec 
dote  respecting  him  —  Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  respecting  Asa  Messer,  Tutor 
Flint,  etc.  —  Ordination  of  Mr.  Flint  — Letter  from  Rev.  Abraham  Booth  — 
Letter  from  Rev.  Dr.  Rippon  — Letter  from  Rev.  Dr.  William  Richards,  of 
Lynn,  England  —  Announces  his  intention  of  bequeathing  his  library  to 
Rhode  Island  College  — Account  of  Mr.  Richards— Corresponds  with  Presi 
dent  Messer  —  Bequeaths  his  library  to  the  University  —  Last  letter  from 
Manning,  addressed  to  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  —  Manning  preaches  his  farewell  sermon 
to  the  people  of  his  charge  —  Notifies  the  Corporation  of  the  College  to  look 
out  for  a  successor  to  fill  his  place—  Singular  presentiment  of  his  approaching 
mortality  —  His  death  —  Universal  sorrow  and  regret  —  Proceedings  of  the 
Corporation  —  Funeral  —  Extracts  from  Maxcy's  Funeral  Sermon  —  Letter 
on  the  occasion  of  Manning's  death  from  Rev.  Dr.  Stillman,  addressed  to 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith  —  Letter  from  Hon.  David  Howell,  in  behalf  of  members  of 
the  Corporation,  announcing  Manning's  death  to  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Jones,  and 
in  an  informal  manner  designating  him  as  his  successor  in  the  Presidency  — 
Letter  from  Rev.  Isaac  Backus  to  Rev.  Dr.  Rippon  —  Extracts  from  Simeon 
Doggett's  Commencement "  Oration  on  the  Death  of  Rev.  President  Manning  " 
—  Extracts  from  the  circular  letters  of  the  Warren  and  Philadelphia  Associa 
tions  —  Manning's  personal  appearance,  habits,  character,  and  influence,  as 
given  by  Hon.  David  Ilowell  —  Original  portrait  of  Manning,  by  Cosmo  Alex 
ander —  Manning's  corpulency  —  Conclusion  —  The  College  founded  by  Bap 
tists  to  secure  for  the  churches  an  educated  ministry  — The  improvement  and 
elevation  of  the  Baptist  denomination  through  the  College  the  object  and  aim 
of  Manning's  entire  professional  life. 


1789-1791. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  421 


From  this  date  Dr.  Manning,  it  appears,  did  not  preserve 
copies  of  his  letters  abroad,  as  had  heretofore  been  his 
custom.  We  can  only  therefore  present,  besides  one  or 
two  additional  letters  of  his  own,  a  few  replies  from  his 
friends,  which  will  doubtless  be  regarded  as  an  interesting 
part  of  his  correspondence.  The  following,  from  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Gordon,  will  serve  to  illustrate  the  author's  position 
and  views  as  the  historian  of  the  American  war. 

RINGWOOD,  ENGLAND,  Feb.  27,  1789. 
MY  GOOD  FRIEND  : 

I  am  mistaken  or  you  are  indebted  to  me  for  an  answer  to  my  last  letter. 
You  might  delay  sending  it  till  you  heard  where  I  was  settled  ;  and  this 
you  will  not  do  by  the  present  means,  but  the  reverse.  You  will  inquire 
after  the  situation  of  Ringwood,  and  the  reason  of  my  being  here.  You 
know  I  have  a  pleasure  in  gratifying  you ;  and  therefore  turn  to  your 
map  of  England,  look  for  Hampshire,  find  out  Pool,  next  the  church, 
which  is  twelve  miles  off,  then  Christ's  Church,  which  is  ten  in  the  con 
trary  direction,  then  Southampton,  which  is  twenty,  and  so  calculate  the 
proper  distance  between  Southampton  and  Pool,  and  from  Christ  Church, 
then  make  your  dot,  and  you  will  either  hit  or  be  not  far  from  Ringwood 
in  imagination.  I  should  be  glad  to  see  you  in  reality,  though  I  should 
be  astonished  at  the  sight,  and  wonder  what  drove  you  from  the  land  of 
the  whereases,  whether  the  inhabitants  are  suddenly  going  from  one  ex 
treme  to  another  and  becoming  all  honest,  so  that  they  no  longer  wanted 
your  instruction  or  example,  or  are  being  so  confirmed  in  their  mal 
practices  as  that  you  had  forsaken  them,  from  a  conviction  that  they  were 
a  set  of  incurables.  Now  for  the  other  part  of  the  question,  "What  brought 
me  hither  ?  Freedom  among  friends  is  best,  you  know  ;  and  therefore,  to 
be  plain  with  you,  when  I  had  seen  to  the  delivery  and  sending  off  my 
History  to  the  subscribers  in  London  and  the  country,  I  pushed  off  to 
this  retirement  for  a  few  months,  that  I  might  at  the  distance  of  ninety- 
seven  miles  be  out  of  the  way  of  the  conversation  that  my  publication 
would  produce.  I  was  sufficiently  tired  with  composing,  transcribing, 
and  publishing ;  and  did  not  wish  to  have  my  spirits  fatigued  more  with 
the  queries  and  observations  that  either  malevolence  or  curiosity  might 
excite.  I  judged  it  as  needful  to  give  myself  a  few  months'  relaxation, 
as  to  turn  out  to  grass  for  a  season  an  old  horse  worn  down  by  a  long, 
36 


422  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  X 

tedious  journey,  that  so  he  might  recruit  and  be  fit  for  a  little  more  service. 
Here  we  shall  remain,  if  spared,  at  the  country  house  of  Mrs.  Gordon's 
younger  brother,  till  April  or  May,  when  I  propose  giving  a  look  at  Lon 
don  for  a  few  days,  on  our  way  to  Ipswich  in  Suffolk,  seventy  miles  from 
the  metropolis,  eighteen  miles  from  Colchester,  and  twelve  from  Harwich. 
Here  we  were  first  settled  and  lived  thirteen  years.  Our  former  people 
and  their  successors,  like  their  quondam  pastor,  were  the  friends  of  Amer 
ica,  so  that  we  shall  agree  in  politics  as  well  as  religion.  They  have  a 
great  affection  for  us ;  and  had  there  been  a  vacancy  in  the  pastorate, 
they  would,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  have  urged  my  renewing  our  former 
relations.  Here  and  in  the  neighborhood  I  shall  be  likely  to  preach  oc 
casionally,  while  abilities  admit ;  but  though  I  have  great  reason  to  adore 
the  goodness  of  God  that  I  am  so  well  in  body  and  mind,  now  that  I  am 
within  nine  days  of  sixty,  yet  I  perceive  that  they  are  upon  the  decline. 
You  will  think  my  eyesight  good  when  you  read  that  I  write,  as  you  see, 
whether  by  day  or  candlelight.  I  was  in  hope  that  some  ministerial 
settlement  with  a  small  congregation,  and  a  salary  that  might  have  made 
our  circumstances  more  easy,  would  have  offered.  But  the  great  Head 
of  the  chucli  has  ordered  otherwise,  —  not  only  with  wisdom  for  the  gen 
eral  good,  but  with  mercy  for  our  particular  benefit.  I  do  not  intend  to 
lie  by  in  a  state  of  lazy  indolence,  but  to  apply  myself  to  some  kind  of 
service  that  may  be  useful  to  the  church  and  the  public,  and  yield  me, 
with  the  blessing  of  God,  some  advantage  to  supply  present  deficiencies. 
What  that  should  be  I  have  not  yet  determined,  and  delay  till  I  get  into 
a  habitation  of  my  own,  if  an  earthly  one  remains  designed  for  me.  But 
I  mean  it  to  be  of  that  nature  that  will  not  disgrace  a  D.D.,  the  creature 
of  Princeton  College  Trustees.  Much  will  depend  upon  the  voice  of  the 
public,  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic.  If  the  numerous  part  of  impartial- 
ists  will  exclaim  well  done,  and  call  for  a  second  edition  of  my  History,  the 
way  will  be  plain.  The  profits  arising  from  it  will  suffice,  especially  if  the 
heads  of  American  colleges  will  let  me  have  their  orders  and  their  cash 
for  the  various  books  that  may  be  wanted  in  their  seminaries  and  libraries, 
which  I  might  be  able  to  supply  them  with  on  lower  terms  than  they  now 
have  them,  by  exchanging  copies  of  my  work  with  the  booksellers  having 
the  copyright  of  such  as  are  to  be  furnished.  Your  friendship  will  lead 
you  to  improve  upon  this  hint  ;  and  mcthinks  I  am  entitled  to  the  coun 
tenance  and  aid  of  the  American  States,  for  my  past  and  present  attach 
ment  to  their  freedom  and  independence,  and  for  the  disadvantages  the 
same  has  subjected  me  to  in  my  native  country. 


1789-1791. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  423 


I  had  finished  writing  thus  far,  and  taken   a  breathing-walk  into  the 
garden,  when  yours  of  September,  1788,  was  brought  to  Mrs.  Gordon  in 
a  parcel.     Upon  opening  the  last,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  reading  that  and 
another  from  the  same  continent.     To  what  it  has  been  owing  that  so 
much  time  has  elapsed  since  that  day  to  the  present,  before  the  parcel 
reached  me,  I  know  not ;  but  better  late  than  never,  and  lonrj-looked-for  is  come 
at  last.   And  now  for  answers  to,  and  comments  upon  it.   Through  divine 
goodness  Mrs.  Gordon's  hand  has  been  so  far  restored  as  to  be  very  ser 
viceable,  though  not  as  formerly.     The  labors  I  had  been  called  to  while 
printing,  and  which  had  near  exhausted  me  by  the  time  I  had  finished, 
led  one  of  my  intimate  friends  to  say  he  was  astonished  at  observing  how 
my  spirits  had  kept  up.     Relaxation,  country  air,  the  severe  cold  of  last 
winter,  and  the  pleasures  of  the  present  spring,  have  given  to  them  a  fresh 
start ;  and  I  promise  myself  they  will  recover  their  former  tone.     The 
produce  of  America  just  received  from  New  York  and  Massachusetts  has 
raised  them  some  degrees  above  par.     When  you  read  the  History,  I  flat 
ter  myself  you  will  pronounce  me  the  friend  of  the  American  cause,  and 
that  I  have  pointed  out  the  faults  of  the  United  States  in  divers  instances 
without  basting  them  severely.     I  can  go  beyond  most  of  the  members  of 
the  old  superannuated  Congress,  or  even  of  the  new  Federal  Constitution, 
and  say,  I  pray  daily  that  the  United  States  of  America  may  be  a  holy, 
free,  and  happy  people,  which  is  the  way  to  be  lasting.     It  used  to  be  one 
of  my  petitions  that  good  government  might  be  established  among  them  ; 
but  that  being  answered,  I  have  only  to  be  thankful  for  it.     You  will  not 
charge  me  with  having  spared  Great  Britain,  when  you  are  convinced 
how  faithfully  their  cruelties  in  America  are  related.     Your  account  of 
Massachusetts  merits  confirmation,  and  I  hope  will  obtain  it.     The  infi 
nitely  wise  Governor  of  the  universe  often  makes  great  evils  the  parents  of 
lasting  and  great  benefits.    But  where  did  you  leave  your  orthodox  divin 
ity,  when  you  went  from  Providence  to  New  York,  that  you  should  ven 
ture  to  declare,  that  if  my  native  country  does  not  smart  in  your  lifetime 
for  her  conduct  to  the  East  Indians  and  Africans,  not  to  say  Americans, 
that  so  you  might  see  it,  you  should  alter  your  opinions  respecting  the 
divine   dispensations  toward  communities  of  men  in  this  world  ?     Me- 
thinks,  Brother  Doctor,  I  have  caught  you  napping.     Besides,  had  the 
Americans  smarted  equal  to  their  crimes  toward  their  public  and  private 
creditors,  the  Africans,  etc.,  when  you  was  provoked  to  leave  off  glorying 
in  being  an  American  ? 

Our  common  friend  Mr.  Rippon  will  give  you  fuller  and  better  intelli- 


424  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  X. 

gence  concerning  Winchester  than  I  can  do.  I  wish  his  most  influential 
days  may  be  at  an  end,  unless  he  goes  right  about  as  lie  was,  to  allude  to 
a  military  phrase.  May  the  college  at  Providence,  and  all  other  colleges 
where  learning,  good  morals,  and  Christian  piety  are  encouraged,  flourish 
more  and  more.  And  may  my  friends  there  continue  to  enjoy  good 
health.  I  have  desired  Mr.  Mason  to  accompany  this  letter  with  six  sets 
of  my  History  to  you.  One  is  a  present  to  the  college  ;  the  other  five  are 
for  Jabez  Bowen,  Esq.,  Messrs.  John  Brown  and  Francis  Benson,  Mr. 
Nicholas  Brown,  Mr.  Caleb  Greene,  and  Mr.  John  Jcnckes.  I  pray  you 
to  present  my  best  respects  to  these  gentlemen,  to  receive  the  remaining 
five  pounds  from  them,  and  to  forward  the  same  to  Jonathan  Mason,  Jr., 
Esq.,  Boston.  If  no  other  way  that  is  more  agreeable  offers,  either  of 
those  careful  and  obliging  postriders,  Messrs.  Mumfords,  to  whom  my 
respects,  I  am  certain  will  take  a  pleasure  in  serving  me  by  conveying  it. 
It  might  not  perhaps  be  amiss  to  hint  to  them,  that  if  by  their  peregrin 
ations  they  could  dispose  of  twenty -five  or  fifty  sets,  I  might  likely  supply 
them  at  twenty-five  shillings  sterling  per  set,  delivered  at  Boston  or  Prov 
idence I  remain,  dear  sir, 

Your  very  affectionate  friend  though  unworthy  brother, 

WILLIAM  GORDON. 

The  services  of  Dr.  Manning  were  still,  it  would  seem, 
in  popular  demand  at  this  trying  period  in  the  history  of 
Rhode  Island  as  a  State.  From  the  records  of  the  day, 
we  learn  that  — 

"At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  town  on  Thursday  (Aug.  27,  1789), 
a  committee,  that  had  been  appointed  on  Tuesday  for  the  purpose,  re 
ported  a  draft  of  a  petition  to  be  presented  to  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  setting  forth  the  distressed  situation  of  this  State,  the  probability 
of  our  soon  joining  the  Union,  and  praying  that  vessels  belonging  to  our 
citizens  may  be  exempted  from  foreign  tonnage,  and  goods  shipped  from 
this  State  from  foreign  duties,  for  such  time  and  under  such  regulations 
and  restrictions  as  Congress  in  their  wisdom  shall  think  proper. 

"The  petition  was  unanimously  voted  ;  and  after  having  been  signed  by 
the  moderator  and  town  clerk,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Manning  and  Benjamin 
Bourn,  Esq.,  were  appointed  to  proceed  to  New  York  and  present  the 
same." 


1789-1701. 


BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  425 


The  committee  appointed  to  draft  the  petition  consisted 
of  Dr.  Manning,  Benjamin  Bourn,  Thomas  Arnold,  Nich 
olas  Brown,  Theodore  Foster,  Welcome  Arnold,  and  John 
Brown.  The  petition  itself,  which  was  probably  drafted 
by  Manning,  as  chairman  of  the  committee,  may  be  found 
in  Staples's  Annals  of  Providence. 

Dr.  Manning,  as  we  have  before  observed,  presided  on 
all  Commencement  occasions  with  remarkable  dignity  and 
grace.  His  addresses  to  the  graduating  class  were  espe 
cially  noted  for  excellent  good  sense,  and  were  pervaded  by 
a  tone  of  piety  and  delivered  with  an  eloquence  which 
could  hardly  fail  to  produce  happy  and  lasting  impressions 
upon  the  young  men,  as  they  stood  before  him  to  receive 
final  words  of  counsel  and  love.  The  only  production  of 
this  kind  that  has  come  down  to  us,  was  copied  from  the 
original,  by  the  Rev.  Isaac  Backus,  several  years  after  the 
author's  death.  It  was  delivered  at  the  Commencement 
held  Sept.  2,  1789.  Among  those  to  whom  it  was  espe 
cially  addressed,  we  notice  the  names  of  Jeremiah  Brown 
Howell,  afterwards  a  member  of  the  United  States  Senate, 
and  the  late  James  Fenner,  for  many  years  the  popular 
and  efficient  Governor  of  Rhode  Island.  Mr.  Fenner,  it 
may  be  added,  was  the  valedictorian  of  his  class. 

PRESIDENT  MANNING'S  CHARGE. 

Having  completed  your  academical  course,  you  now  commence  mem 
bers  of  the  great  community  of  the  world.  Here,  while  your  country 
offers  you  a  fairer  opportunity  to  display  your  abilities,  and  improve  to 
advantage  that  knowledge  which  you  have  acquired,  than  any  age  or 
country  ever  before  presented,  it  becomes  my  duty  to  point  you  to  that 
line  of  conduct  which  will  most  probably  insure  your  success. 

The  narrow  limits  prescribed  by  the  occasion  will  allow  me  to  hint  at 
only  a  few  general  observations. 

The  first  attention  of  a  youth  stepping  forward  into  life  should  be  to 
36* 


426  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  X. 

acquire  and  preserve  a  good  character.  A  destitution  of  this  places  him 
beyond  the  possibility  of  ever  becoming  eminent.  For,  bad  as  the  world 
is,  it  has  always  paid  a  voluntary  tribute  to  virtue ;  and  though  some 
vicious  men  have  arisen  to  a  degree  of  respectability,  it  will  be  found,  on 
a  nearer  view,  that  they  are  indebted  for  that  respectability  to  some  virtu 
ous  traits  in  their  character. 

To  avail  yourselves  of  this  supreme  advantage,  I  cannot  recommend 
to  you  a  subject  more  important  and  interesting  than  the  Christian  relig 
ion  ;  of  whose  divine  Founder  it  was  a  favorite  maxim,  Seek  first  the  king 
dom  of  God  and  his  righteousness,  and  all  other  things  shall  be  added  unto 
you. 

This  divine  religion  creates  principles  in  the  heart  of  its  subjects  the 
most  operative,  and  the  best  adapted  to  regulate  the  life  and  conduct  that 
can  possibly  be  conceived.  This  at  once  portrays  in  the  strongest  colors, 
the  state,  connections,  and  claims  of  man  ;  and  disrobes  the  world  of  all  its 
imaginary  glory,  and  presents  it  in  its  own  fugitive,  fading  colors,  the  fash 
ion  of  which  passeth  away,  while  it  inspires  that  unassuming  humility 
which  renders  a  man  less  vulnerable  by  the  envenomed  shafts  of  malevo 
lence  ;  it  moulds  the  heart  into  a  divine  benevolence,  and  is  the  purest  of 
that  exquisite  sensibility  which  deeply  interests  itself  in  the  fortunes  of 
others,  so  that  it  weeps  with  those  who  weept  and  rejoices  with  those  who 
rejoice. 

This  divine  religion  carries  forward  our  thoughts  to  futurity ,  contem 
plates  as  a  reality  our  dissolution,  and  that  awful  approaching  judgment 
in  which  we  must  all  become  a  party.  It  places  us  in  that  new  eternal 
world,  reaping  the  fruits  of  what  we  have  sown  in  this.  In  a  word,  it 
places  us  immediately  under  the  eye  of  God,  now  the  witness  of  our 
actions,  and  soon  to  be  our  Judge. 

How  operative  this  divine  principle  to  check  the  irregularity  of  the  pas 
sions,  and  guard  against  the  force  of  temptations  !  How  divine  a  prompter 
to  the  discharge  of  every  obligation  we  are  under  to  God  or  man  ! 

Next  to  this  attention  to  religion,  let  me  earnestly  recommend  the  form 
ing  betimes  the  habits  of  industry.  Man  was  made  for  employment.  All 
his  internal  as  well  as  external  powers  testify  to  this  great  truth.  To 
comply  with  this  great  dictate  of  nature  is  of  the  utmost  importance  ;  and 
youth,  of  all  seasons  of  life,  is  the  fittest  for  this  culture.  That  is  the 
period  to  form  and  give  a  proper  direction  to  the  habits,  on  the  right  con 
stitution  of  which  depends,  almost  entirely,  the  happiness  of  man. 

In  selecting  a  profession,  consult  the  strong  bias  of  natural  inclination  ; 


1789-1791.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  427 

for  against  this  current  few  if  any  have  made  a  figure  ;  and  be  sure  that 
the  object  lies  within  reach  of  your  talents. 

Should  the  Christian  ministry  with  any  of  you  become  an  object,  re 
flect  on  the  absurdity  of  intruding  into  it  while  strangers  to  experimental 
religion.  See  that  yourselves  have  been  taught  of  God  before  you  at 
tempt  to  teach  godliness  to  others.  To  place  in  the  professional  chairs  of 
our  universities  the  most  illiterate  of  mankind,  would  be  an  absurdity  by 
far  less  glaring  than  to  call  an  unconverted  man  to  exercise  the  ministe 
rial  function.  This  is  to  expose  our  holy  religion  to  the  scoffs  of  infidels, 
and  to  furnish  to  their  hands  the  most  deadly  weapons.  I  omit  to  insist 
on  the  account  such  must  render  in  the  great,  tremendous  day  ! 

May  that  wisdom  which  is  from  above  direct  your  steps  in  your  jour 
ney  through  life  ;  and  may  you,  after  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  good 
citizens,  men  of  science  and  religion,  meet  the  approbation  of  the  Su 
preme  Judge,  and  reap  the  harvest  of  immortal  glory  in  the  world  above. 

With  this  devout  wish,  I  bid  you  farewell. 

The  reader  will  observe  how  earnestly  and  forcibly 
President  Manning  urges  candidates  for  the  ministry  to 
seek  first  of  all  the  "  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteous 
ness."  This  was  in  accordance  with  his  usual  custom  on 
all  Commencement  occasions.  On  this  point  we  may  be 
allowed  to  quote  from  Backus,  who,  in  the  Abridgment 
of  his  Church  History,  thus  writes :  "  Dr.  Manning  was  a 
good  instructor  in  human  learning,  but  at  every  Com 
mencement  he  gave  a  solemn  charge  to  his  scholars  never 
to  presume  to  enter  into  the  work  of  the  ministry  until 
they  were  taught  of  God,  and  had  reason  to  conclude  that 
they  had  experienced  a  saving  change  of  heart." 

TO    THE   REV.  ABEAHAM   BOOTH. 

PROVIDENCE,  Dec.  25,  1789. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

Your  most  acceptable  favor  of  July  11,  with  the  package,  met  me  at  the 
Association  at  Philadelphia  the  5th  of  last  month.  I  thank  you  for 
your  expressions  of  kindness  towards  me,  and  your  wishes  for  my  useful- 


428  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  X. 

ness.  Indeed,  I  cannot  but  consider  myself  as  a  very  barren  tree  in  my 
Lord's  vineyard. 

The  paragraph  respecting  Dobson's  republishing  your  Pedobaptism  I 
showed  to  the  Association,  and  queried  with  them  whether  your  painful 
labors  and  extensive  services  to  the  Baptist  cause,  in  that  publication,  did 
not  entitle  you  to  our  assistance  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  by  aiding  in 
the  sale  of  the  book.  They  agreed  they  did ;  but  as  Mr.  Dobson  had 
circulated  proposals,  they  doubted  the  propriety  of  taking  the  matter  up 
till  Dobson  had  given  up  the  design.  Thus  it  remains. 

It  seems  Mr.  Williams  has  rallied  his  forces  and  attacked  you.  I  am 
glad,  however,  to  find  that  you  are  not  panic-struck  at  the  onset.  In 
deed,  I  think  you  have  taken  a  ground  too  strong  to  be  easily  dislodged. 
Wo  should  be  gratified  with  a  sight  of  his  piece.  If  the  Pedobaptists,  in 
general,  think  it  masterly,  we  doubtless  shall  soon  see  it  in  America. 
The  strength  of  the  advocates  of  that  tenet  is  to  sit  still.  It  is  too  late  in 
the  day  for  them  to  avail  themselves,  in  this  age  of  inquiry,  of  those  plau 
sible  colorings  which  formerly  passed  very  well  for  solid  arguments. 
At  best,  if  observation  has  not  deceived  me,  this  is  the  fact  with  respect  to 
America. 

Your  Essay  on  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  met  a  most  hearty  welcome,  and 
its  author  has  my  wannest  thanks.  It  was  a  subject  which  had  employed 
my  thoughts  at  intervals  for  several  years,  and  I  was  almost  determined 
to  have  committed  them  to  paper,  with  a  design  to  publish  them.  I  am 
happy  that  I  had  only  thought  of  doing  it,  as  the  subject  has  fallen  into 
much  abler  hands.  I  am  most  heartily  pleased  with  it,  and  think  it  lays 
the  axe  to  the  root  of  that  wide-spreading  tree,  infant-baptism  and  infant 
church  membership. 

Your  portrait  of  Winchester  is  so  exactly  to  the  life  that  all  his  ac 
quaintance  must  see  the  man  in  it.  The  Baptist  society  still  increases  in 
the  Southern  States,  especially  in  Virginia,  and  I  may  add  the  Middle 
States  also,  especially  New  York.  Mr.  Jonathan  Maxcy,  our  youngest 
tutor  in  the  college,  a  youth  of  genius  and  no  small  degree  of  literature 
for  his  age,  about  twenty-one  years  old,  has  lately  found  Christ,  and  fol 
lowed  his  Lord  into  the  watery  grave.  There  is  another  youth  under 
serious  impressions,  and  more  appearance  of  attention  to  divine  tilings 
in  the  college  than  for  some  years  past.  Our  second  tutor,  Mr.  Abel 
Flint,  a  young  Congregationalist  preacher,  has  turned  his  attention  to  the 
subject  of  baptism  for  some  weeks  past,  and  your  Pedobaptism  Exam- 


1789-1791.  BROWN   UNIVERSITY.  429 

ined  has  been  his  almost  constant  companion.  He  told  me,  some  days 
since,  that  if  that  tenet  could  not  be  supported  from  Abraham's  covenant, 
it  must  fall.  If  I  was  as  well  satisfied  of  his  being  a  subject  of  divine 
grace  as  I  am  that  Maxcy  is,  I  should  think  him  no  small  acquisition. 
May  God  grant  him  grace  and  guide  him  into  all  truth!  Our  num 
ber  of  students  lacks  but  two  of  seventy. 

Yours,  etc. 

JAMES  MANNING. 

FROM   THE   KEV.    DK.    EVANS. 

BRISTOL,  Feb.  22,  1790. 
DEAR  SIR: 

The  literary  degree  with  which  the  respectable  Society  over  which  you 
preside  have  thought  proper  to  honor  me,  I  duly  received,  accompanied 
with  your  truly  friendly  letter,  for  which  I  beg  you  to  accept  my  best 
thanks.  I  rely  upon  you,  sir,  to  make  known  my  acknowledgments  to 
the  other  members  of  the  college  for  this  mark  of  distinction  and  favor, 
and  to  assure  them  that  it  will  always  give  me  peculiar  pleasure  to  pro 
mote  the  prosperity  of  so  useful  and  honorable  an  institution. 

I  received  from  King's  College,  Aberdeen,  the  same  honor,  before  the 
degree  from  America  was  announced  here,  so  that  I  consider  myself  under 
double  obligations  to  take  care  that  I  do  nothing  to  discredit  the  title 
which  has  been  so  honorably  conferred  upon  me  by  two  such  respectable 
bodies.  I  not  only  did  not  seek  this  honor,  but  I  ought  to  decline  it ;  but 
as  it  has  been  so  generously  decreed  me,  I  think  it  my  duty  to  receive  and 
improve  it  as  a  motive  to  activity  and  zeal  in  the  sphere  in  which  Provi 
dence  has  placed  me. 

We  are  clogged  here  with  test  laws,  and  in  vain  struggling  to  get  rid 
of  them.  You  know  no  such  shackles.  And  yet  you  know  what  it  is  to 
have  bad  men  disappoint  the  desires  of  the  good,  and  outnumber  them  in 
their  best-intentioned  projects. 

Does  not  the  French  Revolution  astonish  you  1  It  astonishes  and  de 
lights  me  beyond  measure.  But  our  great  folks  here  dislike  it  exceed 
ingly.  The  counsel  of  the  Lord,  however,  shall  stand,  and  he  will  do  all 
his  pleasure. 

I  am  astonished  at  the  resolve  of  your  Association  about  rebaptizing, 
but  refer  you  to  a  letter  of  Mr.  Booth's  upon  the  subject,  I  believe  to  you. 
Surely  you  are  more  narrow  than  the  Papists  upon  this  subject. 

I  congratulate  you  upon  the  increase  of  your  college  and  church,  and 


430  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  X. 

the  rising  state  of  the  Baptist  interest.  We  go  on  as  usual,  are  well  at 
tended,  but  have  few  additions.  The  love  of  many  waxeth  cold.  We 
have  great  reason  to  cry  mightily  to  Him  with  whom  is  the  residue  of  the 
Spirit. 

The  young  man  I  wrote  to  you  about  is  in  too  bad  a  state  of  health  to 

think  of  a  voyage  to  America.     I  rejoice  you  have  rooted  out , 

that  pest  of  society,  a  truly  filthy,  infamous  fellow ;  but  I  know  not  how 
to  refrain  asking,  How  came  you  ever  to  admit  him,  without  the  least 
testimonial  to  his  character  1 

But  I  am  obliged  abruptly  to  break  off,  only  begging  to  be  favored  with 
a  line  whenever  opportunity  offers,  and  that  you  would  believe  I  truly  am 
Your  affectionate  and  obliged  friend  and  brother, 

CALEB  EVANS. 

FKOM   THE   KEY.    ABRAHAM   BOOTH. 

LONDON,  Feb.  25,  1790. 
DEAR  SIR: 

Your  letter  by  favor  of  Mr.  Mullet  came  safe  to  hand  about  a  fortnight 
ago.  So  far  from  being  wearied  by  your  circumstantial  account  of  the  con 
duct  of ,  I  think  myself  much  obliged  to  you  for  it.  Unhappy  man  ! 

I  fear  he  is  hardened  through  the  deceitfulness  of  sin.  May  the  Lord  have 
mercy  on  him,  and  give  him  repentance. 

I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  generous  concern  on  my  behalf 
respecting  the  sale  of  the  second  edition  of  my  Pedobaptism  Examined. 
That  the  composing  of  it  required  much  labor,  that  I  laid  out  no  small 
sum  of  money  in  purchasing  books,  especially  on  the  popish  controversy, 
with  a  view  to  the  new  impression,  and  that  I  am  much  more  likely  to 
lose  by  it  than  to  gain  anything,  are  facts  ;  but  I  am  of  opinion  that,  after 
Dr.  Dobson  had  received  encouragement  to  publish  proposals  for  the  re 
printing  of  it,  my  brethren  in  America  could  not  with  honor  desert  him, 
while  he  continues  his  design  in  reference  to  that  affair. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  find  that  my  Essay  on  the  Kingdom  of  Christ 
meets  with  your  approbation.  The  subject  is  undoubtedly  of  great  im 
portance,  and  I  sincerely  pray  that  the  Lord  may  bless  the  pamphlet  to 
the  promoting  of  that  spiritual  kingdom.  The  first  volume  of  Mr.  Rob 
inson's  History  of  the  Baptists  has  been  in  the  press  for  these  five  or  six 
months,  but  it  is  not  yet  published.  That  volume,  indeed,  is  to  contain  a 
history  of  baptism,  and  three  more  volumes  that  are  to  follow,  a  history  of 
the  Baptists.  A  great  extent  of  reading,  much  wit,  and  many  curious 


1789-1791.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  431 

anecdotes,  may  be  expected  to  appear  in  the  work  whenever  it  comes  out; 
but  I  have  my  fears  that  it  will,  on  the  whole,  be  of  no  great  utility  to  the 
real  cause  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  author  is  now  known  to  have  adopted 
Dr.  Priestley's  system  in  general ;  but  he  is  justly  considered  as  far  infe 
rior  to  the  Doctor  in  respect  of  candor  and  of  integrity.  Dr.  Priestley 
speaks  out ;  you  know  what  he  means.  Not  so  the  other  gentleman.  I 
have  often  thought  that  if  it  had  not  been  for  his  uncommon  share  of  wit, 
he  would  befoi'e  now  have  sunk  into  universal  contempt  among  serious 
people ;  and  he  is,  indeed,  much  sunk  of  late  in  the  estimation  of  num 
bers.  I  have  been  lately  well  informed  that  Dr.  Priestley  considers  him 
as  doing  no  honor  to  any  cause.  This  you  will  observe,  however,  is  inter 
nos. 

The  beginning  of  January  last  I  received  a  letter  from  Dr.  Samuel 
Jones,  of  Lower  Dublin,  respecting  the  validity  of  baptism  administered  by 
immersion  and  on  a  profession  of  faith,  by  an  itnbaptized  —  that  is,  Pcdobap- 
tist  —  minister ;  on  which  question  he  desired  my  opinion.  I  have  given  it, 
in  a  very  long  letter  enclosed  in  one  to  Dr.  Stillman  of  Boston.  I  have 
sent  it  unsealed,  that  Dr.  Stillman  might  have  an  opportunity  of  perusing 
it  before  he  sent  it  off  to  Dr.  Jones.  I  am  very  sorry  that  I  was  obliged, 
in  opposition  to  the  determination  of  the  Association  at  Philadelphia,  to 
take  the  affirmative  of  the  question  ;  that  is,  1  think  such  baptism,  though 
irregular,  valid.  If  you  should  by  any  means  have  a  sight  of  that  letter, 
I  should  he  glad  to  know  your  thoughts  on  the  argument  contained  in  it. 
I  have  expressed  my  views  of  the  subject  with  the  utmost  freedom,  and  I 
trust  without  giving  any  cause  of  offence  to  the  Doctor. 

My  respects,  if  you  have  opportunity,  to  Dr.  Drowne.  I  earnestly  pray 
that  the  Lord  may  cause  his.  truth  to  prosper  all  around  you,  as  I  am  glad 
to  hear  it  does  in  Virginia.  Winchester  seems  to  be  losing  ground  pretty 
fast ;  for  some  of  his  principal  admirers  have  turned  their  backs  upon 
him,  and  have  renounced  his  notion  of  universal  restitution,  of  which  they 
were  once  extremely  fond.  Shall  be  glad  to  hear  from  you  at  any  time 
when  an  opportunity  presents.  The  Lord  be  with  you  in  all  your  depart 
ments  of  labor  and  in  all  your  connections.  I  remain,  dear  sir, 
Your  unworthy  brother, 

A.  BOOTH. 


432  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  X. 

TO   THE   REV.    Dll.    SMITH. 

PROVIDENCE,. .20th  April,  1790. 
DEAR  BROTHER : 

I  snatch  a  moment  to  inform  you  that  the  good  work  still  continues, 
and  I  think  has  been  gradually  increasing  amongst  us  since  you  left. 
Last  Lord's  Day  I  baptized  two,  and  a  third  was  prevented  by  indisposi 
tion  of  body.  Two  profess  to  have  met  with  a  change  the  last  of  last 
week.  Several  profess  to  have  received  comfort,  but  are  not  fully  satis 
fied.  I  believe  that  there  are  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  under  serious  im 
pressions  ;  and  they  crowd  the  evening  meetings  whenever  and  wherever 
they  are  appointed.  Numbers  come  to  my  house  to  converse  with  me 

about  their  souls.    Many  of  Dr.  H k's  people  attend  the  evening 

meetings,  of  whom  several  appear  seriously  impressed.  Some  people, 
you  will  naturally  guess,  do  not  like  this,  and  look  rather  shy.  Poor  Mr. 
Flint  has  come  to  a  point,  and  must  be  a  Baptist,  notwithstanding  the 
reproaches  he  has  to  endure  ;  but  he  has  not  full  satisfaction  about  his  own 
state.  He  is  amazingly  engaged  for  the  persons  under  awakening,  and 
attends  meetings  whenever  he  can.  He  has  been  sick,  but  is  recovered. 
Mr.  Maxcy  has  been  called  and  licensed,  but  has  been  at  home  some 
time,  much  indisposed.  He  is  now  very  ill  with  the  measles.  He 
preaches  to  admiration.  Several  of  the  students  are  also  down  with  the 
measles,  and  others  have  had  them.  Not  a  few  of  the  students  are  under 
serious  impressions.  Many  of  the  people  here  are  often  wishing  to  see 
Mr.  Smith  again  ;  and,  for  your  encouragement,  I  can  inform  you  that 
many  profess  to  have  been  first  awakened  by  your  labors  amongst  us. 
No  account  has  yet  been  received  from  Dr.  Gano,  and  I  expect  to  go  for 
Jersey  the  beginning  of  May.  The  people  really  lament  and  mourn  at  the 
thought  of  being  left  destitute.  What  think  you  of  coming  and  making 
another  visit  to  Providence  the  beginning  of  next  month  ?  I  believe  this 
would  diffuse  a  general  joy  through  both  church  and  society.  You  will  find 
work  enough  to  employ  you  day  and  night.  I  heartily  wish  you  could 
come,  but  I  have  not  had  an  opportunity  of  speaking  to  the  committee  on 
the  subject.  I  expect  they  would  embrace  this  opportunity  of  writing 
you  if  they  knew  of  this  opportunity  to  send  to  Boston,  —  more  especially 
if  they  had  not  sanguine  hopes  that  Dr.  Gano  would  soon  be  here ;  but 
I  really  fear  some  disaster  has  happened  to  him.  If  my  wishes  could 
bring  you  to  Providence,  you  would  soon  be  here.  Attleboro  is  visited, 
and  several  other  places.  Mrs.  Manning  joins  in  love  to  you  and  lady, 

with,  dear  sir,  yours,  etc., 

JAMES  MANNING. 


1789-1791.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  433 

On  Monday,  May  24,  of  this  year,  the  final  State  conven 
tion  on  the  Federal  Constitution  was  held  at  Newport. 
On  Thursday  the  body  adjourned,  for  more  ample  ac 
commodations,  from  the  State  House  to  the  Second  Bap 
tist  Church,  where  for  three  days  the  great  debate  between 
the  contending  parties  was  continued.  At  five  o'clock  on 
Saturday  afternoon  the  final  vote  was  taken.  Thirty-four 
members  voted  to  adopt  the  Constitution,  and  thirty-two 
voted  in  the  negative.  Thus  a  majority  of  two  votes  saved 
the  people  of  Rhode  Island  from  anarchy,  and  the  State 
from  dismemberment. 

The  news  reached  Providence  before  midnight,  and  was 
announced  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  booming  of  can 
non.  The  next  day  the  returning  delegates  were  received 
with  a  national  salute  of  thirteen  guns.  Again,  says  Sta 
ples  in  his  Annals,  "  patriotism  encroached  on  piety,  as 
when  the  vote  for  calling  the  convention  passed  in  the 
preceding  January,  and  the  stillness  of  the  Sabbath  morn 
ing  was  broken  by  the  joyful  roar  of  artillery." 

In  about  two  months  after  this  event,  on  Tuesday,  Au 
gust  17,  President  Washington  with  his  suite,  accompa 
nied  by  Gov.  Clinton  of  New  York,  Thomas  Jefferson,  Esq., 
Secretary  of  State,  and  several  members  of  Congress,  made 
his  first  visit  to  Providence.  A  large  procession  was 
formed  to  escort  them  from  the  packet  in  which  they 
arrived,  and  the  occasion  was  made  a  gala-day  throughout 
the  town.  In  the  evening,  says  the  Gazette,  "  the  Presi 
dent  and  many  others  took  a  walk  on  the  college  green,  to 
view  the  illumination  of  the  building  by  the  students, 
which  made  a  most  splendid  appearance." 

On  Thursday,  the  19th,  the  President  and  his  suite  were 
escorted  to  the  college  by  the  students,  and  by  Dr.  Man- 
37 


434  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  X. 

ning  introduced  to  the  Library  and  Museum,  where  in  be 
half  of  the  corporation  he  thus  addressed  him  :  — 

SIR  :  —  Though  among  the  last  to  congratulate  you  on  your  advance 
ment  to  that  dignified  and  important  station  to  which  the  unanimous  voice 
of  a  grateful  country  has  called  you,  the  corporation  of  Rhode  Island 
College  claim  to  be  among  the  first  in  warmth  of  affection  for  your  per 
son,  and  in  esteem  for  your  public  character.  In  placing  you  at  the  head 
of  the  United  States,  regard  was  had  no  less  to  the  influence  of  your  ex 
ample  over  the  morals  of  the  people  than  to  your  talents  in  the  adminis 
tration  of  government.  Happy  are  we  to  observe,  that  similar  motives 
have  influenced  your  conduct  in  filling  the  lower  offices  in  the  executive 
department.  We  must  devoutly  venerate  that  superintending  Providence 
which,  in  the  course  of  events  propitious  to  this  country,  has  called  you 
forth  to  establish,  after  having  defended,  our  rights  and  liberties. 

Agitated  in  the  hour  of  doubtful  conflict,  exulting  in  your  victories,  we 
watched  your  footsteps  with  the  most  anxious  solicitude.  Our  fervent 
supplications  to  Heaven,  that  you  might  be  furnished  with  that  wisdom 
and  prudence  necessary  to  guide  us  to  freedom  and  independence,  have 
been  heard  and  most  graciously  answered. 

For  the  preservation  of  this  freedom,  one  great  object  still  demands  our 
peculiar  attention,  —  the  education  of  our  youth.  Your  sentiments,  sir, 
on  this  subject,  "that  knowledge  is  in  every  country  the  surest  public  basis 
of  happiness,"  and  the  strongest  barrier  against  the  intruding  hand  of  des 
potism,  as  they  most  perfectly  accord  with  those  of  the  most  celebrated 
characters  that  ever  adorned  human  nature,  so  they  leave  no  room  to  ap 
prehend  you  will  refuse  the  wreath  with  which  the  guardians  of  literature 
here  would  entwine  your  brow. 

By  restoring  your  health,  and  protracting  your  life  so  dear  to  this  coun 
try,  Divine  Providence  has,  in  a  late  instance,  furnished  to  millions  matter 
of  thanksgiving  and  praise. 

That  you  may  long  remain  on  earth,  a  blessing  to  mankind,  and  the 
support  of  your  country,  —  that  you  may  afterwards  receive  the  rewards  of 
virtue,  by  having  the  approbation  of  God,  —  is  our  most  sincere  desire 
and  fervent  supplication. 

This  address,  which  had  been  formally  adopted  by  the 
corporation,  at  a  special  meeting  held  in  the  State  House, 
August  17,  was  duly  presented  to  the  President,  signed 


1780-1791.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  435 

by  Jabez  Boweii,  Chancellor;  James  Manning,  President; 
and  David  Howell,  Secretary.  To  Manning's  address  in 
behalf  of  the  corporation,  President  Washington  thus  re 
plied  :  — 

To  THE  CORPORATION  or  RHODE  ISLAND  COLLEGE  : 

GENTLEMEN  :  —  The  circumstances  which  have  until  this  time  prevented 
you  from  offering  your  congratulations  on  my  advancement  to  the  station 
I  hold  in  the  government  of  the  United  States,  do  not  diminish  the  pleas 
ure  I  feel  in  receiving  this  flattering  proof  of  your  affection  and  esteem, 
for  which  I  request  you  will  accept  my  thanks. 

In  repeating  thus  publicly  my  sense  of  the  zeal  yon  displayed  for  the 
success  of  the  cause  of  your  country,  I  only  add  a  single  suffrage  to  the 
general  testimony  which  all,  who  were  acquainted  with  you  in  the  most 
adverse  and  doubtful  moments  of  our  struggle  for  liberty  and  indepen 
dence,  have  constantly  borne  in  your  favor. 

While  I  cannot  remain  insensible  to  the  indulgence  with  which  you  re 
gard  the  influence  of  my  example  and  the  tenor  of  my  conduct,  I  rejoice  in 
having  so  favorable  an  opportunity  of  felicitating  the  State  of  Rhode  Isl 
and  on  the  cooperation  I  am  sure  to  find  in  the  measures  adopted  by  the 
guardians  of  literature  in  this  place,  for  improving  the  morals  of  the  rising 
generation,  and  inculcating  upon  their  minds  principles  peculiarly  calcu 
lated  for  the  preservation  of  our  rights  and  liberties.  You  may  rely  on 
whatever  protection  I  may  be  able  to  afford  in  so  important  an  object  as 
the  education  of  our  youth . 

I  will  now  conclude,  gentlemen,  by  expressing  my  acknowledgments 
for  the  tender  manner  in  which  you  mention  the  restoration  of  my  health 
in  a  late  occasion,  and  with  ardent  wishes  that  Heaven  may  prosper  the 
literary  institution  under  your  care,  in  giving  you  the  best  of  its  blessings 
in  this  world,  as  well  as  in  the  world  to  come. 

At  the  Commencement  this  year  twenty-two  young 
gentlemen  took  their  first  degree,  being  the  largest  num 
ber  that  had  ever  graduated  at  one  time  since  the  college 
was  founded.  Among  them  was  Moses  Brown,  youngest 
son  of  Nicholas  Brown,  a  bright  and  promising  youth,  who 
a  few  months  later,  just  as  he  had  entered  upon  his  six- 


436  MANNING  AND  CHAP.  X. 

teenth  year,  was  seized  with  a  disorder  which  suddenly 
put  an  end  to  his  life.  In  this  class  also  graduated  the 
third  President  of  Brown  University,  Asa  Messer,  of  whom 
we  have  given  a  sketch  in  the  preceding  chapter.  At 
the  close  of  the  exercises,  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws 
was  conferred  on  George  Washington,1  President  of  the 
United  States  of  America.  This  was  the  last  Commence 
ment  at  which  Dr.  Manning  presided. 

TO    THE   REV.    DE.    SMITH. 

PROVIDENCE,  18th  Nov.,  1790. 
DEAR  BROTHER : 

Yours  of  the  25th  ult.  is  before  me.  The  tide  of  business  which,  on 
my  return  home,  flowed  in  upon  me,  prevented  my  recollecting  the  case 
of  Mr.  Messer.  But  in  my  journey  to  the  West  I  had  him  constantly  in 
view,  but  found  no  opening  which  I  thought  worthy  his  attention.  Mr. 
Eead,  from  Virginia,  has  not  returned,  nor  have  I  had  any  intelligence 
from  him  respecting  a  chance  for  teaching ;  so  that  I  cannot  at  present 
give  any  encouragement  from  this  quarter,  as  it  was  the  general  opinion 
that  it  would  be  imprudent  for  him,  all  things  considered,  to  take  a  place 

1  In  reference  to  this  we  find  the  following  pleasant  anecdote  in  Rippon's  Bap 
tist  Register :  — 

"  In  a  conversation  between  several  friendly  gentlemen  (in  London)  some  time 
since,  which  turned  chiefly  on  the  confinement  of  Lewis  the  Little,  who,  like  an 
absolute  sovereign,  had  said  to  five  and  twenty  millions  of  people,  I 'will  be  obey 'ed, 
—  contrasted  with  the  popularity  of  Washington  the  Great,  —  it  was  mentioned 
that  the  Baptist  College  in  Rhode  Island  had  conferred  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Laws  on  the  President  of  the  United  States.  While  it  seemed  to  be  the  general 
mind  that  this  distinguished  character  in  the  history  of  man  wouid  prefer  the  lau 
rels  of  a  college  to  a  crown  of  despotism,  one  of  the  company,  it  is  said,  quite 
impromptu,  gave  vent  to  the  feelings  of  his  heart  in  the  following  effusion :  — 

'  When  kings  are  mere  sovereigns,  or  tyrants,  or  tools, 
No  wonder  the  people  should  treat  them  as  fools; 
But  Washington,  therefore,  presides  with  applause. 
Because  he  well  merits  the  Doctor  of  Laws. 
I'll  ne'er  be  a  ruler  till  I'm  LL.  D., 
Nor  England  nor  Scotland  shall  send  it  to  me; 
I'll  have  my  diploma  from  Providence  Hall,  — 
For  Washington  had,  —  or  I'll  have  none  at  all.' " 


1789-1791.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


437 


in  college,  till  the  present  Senior  Class  are  out  of  the  way.  We  have  ap 
pointed  a  Mr.  Lyndon  Arnold  to  that  office  for  the  present,  who  has  no 
thoughts  of  continuing  more  than  a  year.  If  Mr.  Mcsser  should  not  fall 
into  better  business  by  that  time,  it  would  be  very  agreeable  to  me  to  have 
him  for  an  assistant ;  and  sooner,  should  Tutor  Maxcy  leave  us,  which  he 
talks  of,  though  I  shall  reluctantly  agree  to  it.  He  has  with  great  { er- 
suasion  consented  to  supply  the  pulpit  for  six  months,  and  does  it  to 
great  acceptance.  He  has  many  hearers,  and  his  labors  appear  to  be 
owned.  He  improves  amazingly.  The  good  work  still  prevails,  and 
the  prospect  is  as  promising  at  present  as  at  any  period  past.  Our  dear 
friend  Mr.  Jenckes  appears  almost  gone.  It  is  not  likely  that  he  will 
stay  with  us  many  weeks.  Nicholas  Brown  is  in  a  very  poor  way,  but 
yet  goes  out.  I  fear  his  disorder  is  radical  and  will  prove  fatal. 

Your  son's  standing  shall  remain  as  it  has  done.  The  instances  of 
Catholicism  amongst  the  Presbyterians  are,  their  opening  their  houses  of 
worship  to  the  Baptists,  and  nocking  to  hear  them,  at  Brunswick,  Wood- 
bridge,  Elizabethtown,  Newark,  etc.  The  Association  of  Danbury  con 
sists  of  thirteen  churches,  and  there  are,  probably  as  many  more  in  that 
quarter  which  will  join  them.  There  has  been  a  great  increase  of  the  Bap 
tists  in  the  western  part  of  Connecticut  and  in  the  lower  part  of  York  State 
of  late.  I  suppose  Mr.  Flint  has  concluded  to  commence  a  preacher 
among  the  Congregationalists,  and  I  conclude  is  about  to  accept  a  call  to 
the  South  Parish  in  Hartford.  Either  the  cross  was  too  heavy  to  com 
mence  a  Baptist,  or  he  had  little  reason  to  expect  that  he  should  be  called 
to  the  work  among  us,  unless  he  could  give  better  evidence  of  a  change 
of  heart ;  or  probably  something  of  both  had  weight  in  his  determination. 
I  have  said  nothing  to  him  on  the  subject  lately,  as  I  was  convinced  of 
the  strong  bias  he  had  for  preaching  at  all  events.  I  suppose  he  has  been 
borne  down  with  a  torrent  of  influence  from  Pedobaptist  connections. 

By  a  letter  from  Mr.  E.  Bobbins  I  hear  that  the  two  churches  in  York 
are  very  happy  together.  I  wish  this  feeling  may  continue  and  increase. 
The  day  appointed  for  Mr.  Baldwin's  instalment  I  attended  the  ordina 
tion  of  Mr.  Ebenezer .  The  letter  from  the  Boston  church  did 

not  reach  me  until  late  in  the  evening  of  the  preceding  Lord's  Day,  so 
that  it  was  out  of  my  power  either  to  come  or  send  them  word.  I  hope 
you  had  a  comfortable  season.  Our  friend  Mr.  Sutton  is  settled  nearly 
in  the  centre  of  Kentucky,  and,  I  believe,  in  regard  to  worldly  prospects, 
is  more  happy  than  ever  he  was,  though  he  has  not  the  charge  of  a  church, 
37* 


438  M  A  N  X I  X  G   AND  CHAP.  X. 

as  there  are  four  ordained  ciders  in  that  to  which  he  belongs.  He  has 
purchased  two  hundred  acres  of  good  land,  has  enough  cleared  to  raise 
his  bread,  which  his  sons  manage,  together  with  carrying  on  a  considera 
ble  share  of  the  hatter's  business.  This  leaves  him  at  leisure  to  travel, 
as  he  has  lost  his  wife  ;  and  among  other  journeys,  he  contemplates  one 
to  New  England,  to  visit  once  more  all  his  friends  in  this  quarter.  With 
best  respects  to  you,  lady,  and  family,  with  all  friends,  in  which  Mrs. 

Manning  joins, 

I  remain,  as  ever, 

JAMES  MANNING. 

Mr.  Flint,  to  whom  Manning  here  refers,  was  ordained 
as  a  pastor  of  the  Second  Congregational  Church  in  Hart 
ford,  on  Wednesday,  April  20,  1791.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Strong 
of  Hartford  made  the  introductory  prayer,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Hitchcock  of  Providence  preached  the  sermon,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Goodrich  of  Durham  gave  the  charge,  the  Rev.  Na 
than  Perkins  of  Hartford  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellow 
ship,  and  the  Rev.  David  Macclure  of  East  Windsor  made 
the  concluding  prayer. 

FROM   THE   REV.   ABRAHAM    BOOTH. 

LONDON,  April  1,  1791. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

It  being  more  than  twelve  months  since  I  wrote  you  a  letter,  I  have 
been  much  disappointed  in  not  having  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  from 
you.  At  the  same"  time  I  sent  a  very  long  letter  to  Dr.  Samuel  Jones,  in 
answer  to  one  I  received  from. him,  relative  to  the  propriety  of  baptizing 
such  persons  as  had  been  solemnly  immersed  on  a  profession  of  faith  by 
a  Pedobaptist  minister, — both  of  which  I  enclosed  in  a  packet  to  Dr. 
Stillman  at  Boston  ;  but,  to  my  great  surprise,  I  have  not  received  a  line 
from  America  since.  The  name  of  the  captain  (nor  yet  of  his  ship)  by 
whom  the  little  packet  was  sent,  I  do  not  now  recollect,  but  should  be 
very  sorry  to  learn  that  the  letter  never  came  to  hand. 

It  is  probable  that  you  have  heard,  ere  now,  of  the  death  of  Mr.  E. 
Robinson,  of  Cambridge.  He  died  the  last  summer,  a  little  before  his 
History  of  Baptism  was  finished  at  the  press  ;  by  which  book  it  appears 
he  was  a  thorough-faced  Socinian  at  the  time  of  his  decease.  He  died  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Birmingham,  at  the  house  of  a  gentleman  belonging 


1789-1791.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


439 


to  Dr.  Priestley's  community,  after  having  preached  at  the  Doctor's 
meeting-house  the  Lord's  Day  before ;  was  buried  at  the  Doctor's  bury- 
ing-ground  (he  at  least  spoke  at  the  grave)  at  the  expense  of  the  Doctor's 
people,  and  the  Doctor  preached  and  published  a  funeral  sermon  for  him  ; 
a  sermon  contemptible  as  to  its  composition,  and  detestable  as  to  the  sen 
timents  contained  in  it.  Some  of  the  sentiments,  in  my  view,  are  an  in 
sult,  not  only  on  the  Scriptures  but  on  common  sense,  except  the  latter 
be  debauched  by  vain  philosophy.  Mr.  Robinson's  History  of  Baptism 
you  may  probably  have  seen  before  now.  It  seems  to  me  to  be  a  work 
of  both  labor  and  learning.  It  contains  various  particulars,  in  opposition 
to  infant-sprinkling,  that  are  both  new  and  pertinent ;  but  there  is  much 
extraneous  matter ;  there  are  many  indications  of  rank  Socinianism  ; 
various  detestably  fanciful  interpretations  of  passages  in  the  Old  Testa 
ment  ;  and  such  marks  of  enmity  against  the  character  of  Augustinus  as 
I  did  not  expect.  We  have  very  lately  lost  by  death  that  worthy  Baptist 
minister,  Mr.  Robert  Hall,  of  Amsby,  in  Leicestershire.  He  is,  I  doubt 
not,  now  with  God,  and  his  memory  is  much  respected. 

Socinianism  is,  I  fear,  still  gaining  ground  in  England,  especially  in  the 
national  Establishment ;  and  several  of  our  young  Baptist  ministers  have, 
within  these  two  or  three  years,  adopted  that  pernicious  system  of  error 
and  of  blasphemy.  But  our  divine  Jesus  lives  and  reigns,  to  govern  the 
world  and  to  take  care  of  his  own  cause. 

I  hear  but  little  of  Mr.  Winchester  of  late,  and  have  never  seen  him. 
I  urn  inclined  to  think,  however,  that  his  corrupt  principles  lose  rather 
than  gain  ground  in  this  metropolis. 

Hope  you  will  indulge  me  with  a  letter  as  soon  as  you  can  after  you 
receive  this ;  and  that,  among  other  things,  you  will  inform  me  whether 
my  Pedobaptism  Examined  be  yet  republished.  I  have  been  informed 
that  proposals  for  publishing  by  subscription  my  Essay  on  the  Kingdom 
of  Christ,  have  appeared  at  Philadelphia.  I  was  a  little  surprised  to 
hear  of  republishing,  by  subscription,  so  small  a  piece,  nothing  of  that 
kind  being  issued  here. 

It  has  been  and  now  is  a  sickly  time  among  my  people.  Three  of  the 
members  of  the  church  under  my  imperfect  pastoral  care  have  departed 
out  of  life  since  the  present  year  came  in,  and  another  of  them  is  on 
the  verge  of  the  grave,  by  the  envenomed  tooth  of  a  devouring  cancer. 
The  Lord  grant  that  we  may  be  prepared  for  his  whole  will  concerning 
us.  Oh  for  more  genuine  spiritual-mindedness  ! 
And  now,  sir,  I  most  affectionately  commend  you  to  God,  and  to  the 


440  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  X. 

•word  of  his  grace,  earnestly  praying  that  peace  and  prosperity  may  at 
tend  you  and  yours  and  all  the  churches  of  Christ.     I  remain,  dear  sir, 
Your  unworthy  brother  in  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ, 

A.  BOOTH. 

FKOM   THE    KEY.    DR.    HIPPOS,    OF    LONDON. 
REVEREND  AND  DEAR  SIR  : 

Last  evening  Capt.  Mesnard  delivered  me  his  letters  from  New  York, 
and  to-morrow  the  Eagle  sails,  so  that  I  have  but  a  few  minutes  for  each 
letter. 

The  Register  is  taking  a  prodigious  spread  through  almost  all  our 
churches,  the  country  friends  themselves  ordering  from  fifteen  to  one  hun 
dred  copies  for  each  church.  I  feel  myself  honored  in  seeing  your  name 
among  the  brethren  who  encourage  the  design.  I  refer  now  to  the  adver 
tisement  in  the  Philadelphia  Association  letter.  I  had  hoped  that  I 
might  have  received  your  painting  by  Capt.  Mesnard,  but  I  must  now 
beseech  you  to  forward  it  by  the  veryjirst  safe  conveyance,  informing  me 
at  what  age  it  was  done.  Dr.  Evans  is  beautifully  engraved,  and  so  is 
Providence  meeting-house,  from  a  copy  in  the  Massachusetts  Magazine 
for  August,  1789.  No  part  of  the  Magazine  have  I  seen  besides.  The 
account  of  the  Providence  church  cannot,  I  suspect,  be  brought  into  the 
Eirst  Part  of  the  Register,  though,  on  account  of  its  early  date,  it  should 
be  one  of  the  first  societies  under  Article  the  8th,  where  it  stands.  I 
would  not  so  soon  have  advertised  its  insertion,  had  I  not  known  it  would 
have  afforded  great  pleasure  to  many  of  our  English  brethren  ;  though,  by 
the  way,  some  of  them  are  astonished  at  the  STEEPLE  !  I  was  the  more 
unwilling  to  bring  this  article  forward  so  early,  because  I  was  unac 
quainted  with  your  opinion  of  the  narrative.  It  came  here  to  a  friend  of 
John  Stanford,  said  to  have  been  written  by  him  and  approved  by  the 
church.  Of  course  you  have  seen  it.  No  one  in  the  city  but  myself  and 
the  family  to  whom  it  was  sent  know  that  Stanford  had  any  hand  in  it  ; 
and  his  name  must  be  entirely  kept  out  of  sight  in  this  country.  If  I  in 
troduce  the  account  of  the  church  in  the  Second  Part  of  the  Register,  with 
your  corrections,  I  dare  not  go  any  further  than  1787,  unless  you  will 
give  the  narrative  such  a  finish  that  the  close  may  introduce  your  present 
condition.  Mr.  Foster  informs  me  that  Mr.  Maxcy  (named  in  your  for 
mer  letter)  has  engaged  to  supply  Providence  one  year.  I  beg  to  be  af 
fectionately  remembered  to  him.  I  never  had  any  correspondence  with 
Mr.  '  •  ;  am  sorry  to  find  he  did  not  behave  well  at  Providence. 


1789-1791.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  441 

The  happiness  of  the  American  churches  lies  near  my  heart.  I  aee  my 
brethren  have  too  much  neglected  them.  There  is  not  public  spirit  enough 
in  this  country ;  but  I  have  hinted  by  this  conveyance  to  two  friends, 
that  the  Register  is  intended  to  serve  the  American  brethren  particularly. 
I  am  sure  when  we  have  larger  accounts  of  Kentucky,  well  authenticated, 
the  design  you  proposed  a  few  months  since  can  naturally  be  brought  for 
ward  ;  and  I  have  laid  some  foundation  already  for  its  success.  This  I 
have  mentioned  to  no  American  but  yourself. 

I  find  Mr.  Wesley's  people  are  aiming  to  have  a  new  college  in  Amer 
ica  (vide  Dr.  Coke's  Missions).  I  wish  I  had  a  good  drawing  or  engrav 
ing  of  your  college  edifice,  and  a  history  of  the  college.  I  have  the 
printed  charter ;  wish  for  a  proof  of  the  old  seal,  with  the  explanations 
thereof.  Would  you  favor  me  with  the  history1?  Dr.  Evans  has  offered 
an  account  of  the  Bristol  Academy.  If  you  are  too  busy,  could  not  Dr. 
Drowne  draw  it  up  1  I  wish  I  could  see  Mr.  Maxcy's  handwriting.  I 
have  a  copy  of  Eobinson's  History  of  Baptism  for  your  acceptance.  Hope 
to  send  it  next  month,  with  an  article  ordered  by  Dr.  Drowne.  My  re 
spects  to  him.  My  Christian  love  to  your  good  lady. 

I  remain,  affectionately  and  truly,  yours, 

JOHN  RIPPON. 

p.  g.  —  i  dare  not  dictate,  but  if  the  Register  meets  the  approbation  of 
the  American  brethren,  perhaps  each  Association  would  say  what  num 
ber  they  would  certainly  take,  and  appoint  the  clerk,  or  some  other 
brother,  to  convey  materials  for  me  to  Boston,  Philadelphia,  or  New 
York,  from  time  to  time. 

In  December  of  this  year,  Dr.  Manning  addressed  a  letter 
to  the  Rev.  William.  Richards,  LL.  D.,  of  Lynn,  England, 
to  which  Mr.  Richards  thus  replies.  The  letter,  it  may  be 
added,  did  not  reach  Providence  until  nearly  four  months 
after  Manning  had  passed  from  the  scenes  of  his  earthly 
labors. 

LYNN,  IN  NORFOLK,  OLD  ENGLAND,  June  6,  1791. 
MY  DEAR  SIR  : 

Embracing  an  opportunity  which  has  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  pre 
sented  itself,  of  sending  to  America  a  packet  by  a  private  hand,  I  can  do 
little  more  than  just  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  kind  letter  of  the 


442  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  X. 

fifteenth  of  December,  which  made  its  way  here  about  the  middle  of  last 
month,  via  Liverpool  and  Birmingham.  I  sincerely  thank  you,  sir,  for 
this  favor ;  and  I  rejoice  exceedingly  in  the  prospect  which  your  letter 
exhibits  of  the  growing  greatness  and  the  increasing  felicity  .and  prosper 
ity  of  America.  I  have  long  been  partial  to  that  country,  and  at  a  very 
early  period  of  my  life  (sixteen  or  seventeen  years  ago)  was  on  the  point 
of  removing  from  Britain  thither.  The  war  deterred  me  then,  and  for 
some  years  after,  from  accomplishing  my  purpose ;  and  having  been  set 
tled  in  this  place  some  years  when  the  peace  took  place,  I  found  it  rather 
inconvenient  then  to  quit  the  country.  Should  I  live  a  few  years  longer, 
it  is  still  probable  that  I  shall  remove,  but  it  is  most  likely  that  that  re 
moval  will  be  to  Wales  and  not  to  America.  I  am  and  have  always  been 
very  much  attached  to  my  dear  native  country  ;  but  I  should  like  it  much 
better  were  it  connected  with  the  United  States,  than  as  it  is,  a  branch  of 
the  corrupt  British  empire. 

As  to  the  issue  of  my  late  controversy  with  Mr.  Carter,  my  last  piece, 
The  History  of  Antichrist,  brought  it  to  its  conclusion.  I  have  never  seen 
my  opponent  since,  but  he  has  repeatedly  sent  me  his  friendly  compli 
ments,  and  invited  me  to  call  upon  him  whenever  I  should  pass  through 
his  neighborhood,  but  it  has  not  suited  me  to  pay  him  a  visit  yet.  Our 
Independent  brethren  have  treated  their  poor  Baptist  neighbors  somewhat 
more  civilly  since  this  controversy  took  place  than  they  were  wont  to  do. 
In  these  counties  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  they  are  a  very  powerful  body. 
That  party,  sir,  as  I  suppose  you  know,  originated  here,  and  have  con 
tinued  here  ever  since,  as  numerous  and  respectable  as  in  any  part  of 
Britain.  Their  ministers  are  in  general  men  of  considerable  abilities  and 
learning,  while  the  Baptist  ministers,  on  the  contrary,  are  possessed  of  but 
a  moderate  share  of  either.  The  former  seemed  conscious  of  their  supe 
riority,  and  in  general  affected  to  treat  the  latter  with  the  most  manifest 
contempt.  In  short,  sir,  I  am  the  first  of  the  Particular  Baptists,  and 
even  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  who  has  had  the  temerity  to  accept  a 
challenge  from  or  to  enter  the  lists  with  a  Norfolk  or  Suffolk  Indepen 
dent.  I  hope  the  adventure  was  not  altogether  useless  to  the  Baptist 
cause.  The  Independents  have  never  since  discovered  the  least  disposi 
tion  to  oppose  us  again  in  print ;  and  it  is  the  general  opinion  that  it 
will  be  long  before  they  will  attempt  to  provoke  the  Baptists  into  another 
paper  war.  Many  of  them  were  convinced,  during  the  debate,  that  the 
Pedobaptist  scheme  was  not  tenable,  and  they  of  course  joined  us  ;  and 
not  one  was  known  to  be  confirmed,  in  the  mean  time,  in  that  scheme. 


1789-1791.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  443 

Since  the  conclusion  of  this  dispute,  I  have  been  called,  by  the  unani 
mous  voice  of  the  Welsh  Baptists,  to  engage  in  another  of  a  similar  na 
ture  with  the  Presbyterians  and  Independents  of  the  Principality,  who  had 
just  then  broken  the  peace  by  violently  attacking  their  principles,  and  who 
were  likewise  strongly  supported  by  the  Whitefieldites,  a  very  numer 
ous  body  in  that  country.  The  person  intrusted  by  them  with  the  direc 
tion  of  this  war  is  a  Mr,  Benjamin  Evans,  a  very  popular  minister  in 
Cardiganshire,  very  dexterous  and  very  obstinate  in  debate,  and  a  perfect 
adept  in  the  sophist  and  the  quibbler's  trade.  He  has  already  published 
three  pieces,  and  I  am  now  about  beginning  my  third  piece  in  reply.  What 
will  be  the  issue  of  this  war  must  be  left  for  time  to  determine.  My  op 
ponent,  by  the  vigor  and  violence  of  his  exertions,  and  frequent  rallyings 
and  renewals  of  the  combat,  seems  to  think  that  he  has  a  great  deal  at 
stake.  He,  too,  and  his  brethren,  took  it  for  granted  that  he  was  greatly 
superior  to  any  that  the  Baptists  could  call  out  to  oppose  them  in  the 
Welsh  language.  God  grant  that  the  truth  may  not,  in  this  hard  strug 
gle,  be  anywise  dishonored  by  its  very  unworthy  advocate. 

Report  says  that  this  controversy  has  already  been  productive  of  some 
very  pleasing  and  happy  effects,  and  that  the  Baptist  interest  is  likely  to 
be  considerably  benefited  by  it.  I  sent  a  copy  of  my  first  Welsh  tract  to 
your  good  Brother  Dr.  Samuel  Jones,  and  had  you  known  the  language  I 
should  have  been  very  happy  to  have  presented  you  with  another,  and 
submitted  it  to  your  examination.  I  deem  these  much  superior  to  my 
English  pieces.  They  cost  me  much  more  thought,  and  I  bestowed  much 
more  pains  upon  them  every  way. 

Some  suppose  that  the  piece  I  have  now  on  hand  will  be  the  last  of  this 
controversy,  but  that  seems  to  me  rather  doubtful.  I  almost  think  that 
some  things  I  shall  advance  this  time  will  provoke  some  kind  of  a  reply. 
Nor  am  I  at  all  anxious  about  that  matter,  so  long  as  our  countrymen 
continue  to  give  us  a  patient  and  attentive  hearing.  I  am  willing  to  give 
my  labor,  and  my  Welsh  brethren  seem  at  present  as  willing  to  be  at  the 
expense  of  printing  what  I  write. 

The  Baptists  are  very  numerous  and  greatly  on  the  increase  in  Wales. 
Some  churches  there  are  the  largest  we  have  in  Britain.  That  of  Lanj- 
loffan,  in  Pembrokeshire,  which  is  the  largest  of  all,  consists  of  between 
eight  hundred  and  nine  hundred  members.  The  great  increase  of  the 
Welsh  Baptists  is  seemingly  what  provoked  their  Pedobaptist  brethren 
to  commence  this  quarrel  with  them.  I  hope  they  will  not  in  the  end 
have  any  cause  to  triumph  over  us. 


444  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  X. 

I  have  had  some  thoughts  of  writing  the  Life  of  Roger  Williams. 
Could  you,  sir,  tell  me  where  he  was  born,  or  add  any  materials  towards 
his  history,  over  and  above  what  Mr.  Backus's  history  contains  "?  I  have 
some  of  his  works  which  Mr.  Backus  never  saw.  He  is  with  me,  in  sev 
eral  respects,  a  favorite  character. 

I  am  sorry  to  hear  of  the  smallness  of  your  fund,  and  of  your  pecuni 
ary  difficulties  at  the  college.  I  wish  the  British  Baptists  would  take  your 
case  under  consideration,  and  afford  you  some  effectual  aid.  They  ought 
to  do  so,  I  think ;  and  yet  I  am  afraid  it  will  not  be  an  easy  matter  to  per 
suade  them  to  it,  unless  some  of  the  Londoners,  and  other  opulent  Bap 
tists,  were  to  take  it  up. 

I  thought  your  library  was  more  considerable,  and  am  sorry  to  find  it 
is  not.  The  Bristol  Library  is  now  a  very  capital  one  by  the  addition  of 
the  collections  of  Drs.  GifFord  and  Llewelyn,  and  especially  the  latter, 
which  was  a  very  excellent  one.  I  wish  some  others  in  this  country 
would  bequeath  their  collections  to  your  college.  I  have  myself  near  fif 
teen  hundred  volumes,  some  of  them  of  value.  But  a  man  in  my  situa 
tion,  in  very  moderate  circumstances,  and  with  a  very  small  salary  from 
the  congregation,  and  having  withal  an  aged  mother  to  provide  for,  —  a 
man  in  such  a  situation,  I  say,  must  make  no  resolution  in  matters  of  this 
kind.  Perhaps  my  circumstances  when  I  die  may  not  admit  of  my  dis 
posing  of  my  books  as  I  might  have  wished.  Therefore  please  to  keep 
this  hint  to  yourself.  Now,  my  dear  sir,  I  must  take  my  leave.  May 
every  blessing  attend  you,  is  the  earnest  wish  and  prayer  of 

Your  sincere,  affectionate,  and  faithful  friend,  brother  and  servant, 

W.  RICHARDS. 

P.  S.  — Is  there  any  truth,  sir,  in  the  reports,  which  our  public  papers 
daily  circulate  in  this  country,  of  very  dreadful  ravages  committed  by  the 
natives  among  your  people  about  Kentucky  and  other  back-settlements  ? 
I  suspect  it  is  only  a  contrivance  of  our  Government  for  the  purpose  of 
checking  the  progress  of  emigration,  and  to  persuade  the  good  people  of 
Britain  that  thei*e  is  not  so  blessed  a  country  anywhere  as  their  own.  Our 
papers  are  in  like  manner  stuffed  with  falsehoods  relating  to  the  state  of 
things  in  France,  and  the  proceedings  of  the  National  Assembly.  These 
tricks  will  not  always  serve  their  purpose. 

I  received  a  letter  lately  from  Mr.  Curtis,  son-in-law  to  the  late  Mr. 
Robinson.  The  second  volume  of  Mr.  Robinson's  long-expected  work  is 
now  in  the  press.  It  is  not  intended  to  print  any  more  than  seven  hun- 


1789-1791. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  445 


dred  and  fifty  copies  of  it,  so  that  I  suppose  it  will  soon  become  scarce. 
It  was  the  author's  design  to  have  called  it  the  First  Volume  of  the  His 
tory  of  the  Baptists ;  but  as  he  did  not  live  to  complete  his  plan,  or  to 
finish  any  more  than  this  volume  of  it,  it  is,  by  the  advice  of  Dr.  Abra 
ham  Rees,  to  be  entitled  Ecclesiastical  Researches.  I  am  sorry  to  learn 
that  there  are  still  near  four  hundred  copies  of  the  History  of  Baptism 
unsold. 

Dear  sir,  pray  pardon  the  intolerable  length  and  blunders  of  this  scrawl. 
When  I  began,  I  little  thought  I  should  scribble  half  so  much,  nor  indeed 
did  I  expect  that  the  opportunity  would  permit  me  to  do  so,  as  I  thought 
the  messenger  could  not  stay.  Excuse  me  this  time. 

Mr.  Richards1  was  a  native  of  South  Wales.  At  the 
age  of  twelve  he  had  been  at  school  only  one  year.  From 
this  time  till  the  twenty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  when  he 
entered  the  academy  at  Bristol,  he  received  no  instruc 
tion.  But  his  application  to  study  was  vigorous  and  per 
severing.  He  remained  at  the  academy  in  Bristol  two 
years.  After  preaching  for  a  short  time  as  an  assistant  to 
Dr.  John  Ash,  of  Pershore,  he  accepted  an  invitation  from 
the  Baptist  Church  at  Lynn  to  become  their  pastor,  and 
entered  upon  his  public  ministry  in  that  town  July  7, 
1776,  where  he  continued  to  reside  —  more  than  half  of  the 
time  as  pastor  of  the  church  —  till  his  death,  which  oc 
curred  in  1818,  in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Richards  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  considera 
ble  learning,  particularly  in  English  and  Welsh  history,  and 
in  the  Welsh  language  and  literature.  His  writings  are  his 
torical,  political,  and  controversial.2  His  most  important 
work  is  The  History  of  Lynn,  in  2  vols.  8vo.  Dr.  Evans 
says  of  it :  "  It  is  not  only  well  written,  the  style  perspic- 

i  See  Memoirs  of  the  Life  and  Writings  of  Rev.  William  Richards,  LL.D.,  by 
John  Evans,  LL.D.,  of  Islington.  12mo.  Chiswick.  1819. 

a  For  a  list  of  his  writings,  —  comprising  nearly  the  whole,  —  see  under  his 
name  in  the  catalogue  of  the  college  library. 

38 


446  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  X. 

nous  and  manly,  but  it  is  replete  with  information  as  well 
as  entertainment."  His  review  of  Noble's  Memoirs  of 
the  Protectoral  House  of  Cromwell  is  characterized  by 
Lowndes1  as  "severe,  but  at  the  same  time  just." 

"  His  Dictionary  of  Welsh  and  English,"  says  Dr.  Evans, 
"  a  work  of  minute  and  wearisome  labor,  is  in  high  repute." 
Mr.  Richards  was  of  the  General  Baptist  denomination, 
and  a  strong  advocate  of  religious  liberty.  It  was  his  love 
of  the  liberal  character  of  the  college  which  induced  him 
to  bestow  upon  it  his  library,  as  appears  from  the  follow 
ing  passage  in  his  Memoirs  :  — 

"Mr.  Richards  had  corresponded  with  Dr.  James  Manning,  once 
President  of  the  Baptist  college  in  Rhode  Island.  From  this  gentleman 
he  learned  the  liberal  constitution  of  that  respectable  seminary,  and  for 
some  years  previous  to  his  death  meant  to  bequeath  to  it  his  library.  He 
accordingly  made  inquiry  of  Dr.  Rogers  [of  Philadelphia],  whether  it 
was  still  conducted  on  the  same  liberal  footing,  in  which  case  he  should 
cherish  the  same  generous  intentions  towards  it." 

This  inquiry  was  answered  by  Dr.  Messer,  then  Presi 
dent  of  the  college,  in  a  letter  from  which  we  extract  a 
single  passage  :  — 

"  Though  the  charter  requires  that  the  President  shall  forever  be  a  Bap 
tist,  it  allows  neither  him,  in  his  official  character,  nor  any  other  officer 
of  instruction,  to  inculcate  any  sectarian  doctrine.  It  forbids  all  relig 
ious  tests  ;  and  it  requires  that  all  denominations  of  Christians,  behav 
ing  alike,  shall  be  treated  alike.  This  charter  is  congenial  with  the 
whole  of  the  civil  government  established  here  by  the  venerable  Roger 
"Williams,  who  allowed  no  religious  tests,  and  no  preeminence  of  one 
denomination  over  another ;  and  none  has  ever  been  allowed  unto  this 
day.  This  charter  is  also  congenial  with  the  present  spirit  of  this  State 
and  of  this  town." 

1  Bibliographer's  Manual. 


1789-1791. 


BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  447 


Gratified  with  this  letter,  Mr.  Richards,  in  accordance 
with  the  purpose  which  he  cherished  twenty-seven  years 
previous  to  his  death,  and  which  he  hints  in  his  letter  to 
Dr.  Manning,  bequeathed  his  books,  consisting  of  about 
thirteen  hundred  volumes,  to  Brown  University.  This  was 
the  most  important  donation  that  the  library  had  as  yet 
received.  It  is  a  singular  fact,  that  his  will  was  made  on 
the  very  day  on  which  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Laws  was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  college.  Mr.  Rich 
ards  had  received  no  intimation  that  the  honor  was  in 
tended  for  him,  nor  did  he  live  to  hear  that  it  had  been 
bestowed. 

The  library  which  he  thus  bequeathed  is  in  many  re 
spects  valuable.  It  contains  a  considerable  number  of 
Welsh  books,  a  large  collection  of  works  illustrating  the 
history  and  antiquities  of  England  and  Wales,  besides 
two  or  three  hundred  bound  volumes  of  pamphlets,  some 
of  them  very  ancient,  rare,  and  curious.  The  collection 
is  particularly  valuable  for  its  treatises  on  civil  and  reli 
gious  liberty.  The  original  manuscript  catalogue  of  Mr. 
Richards's  library  has  recently  come  into  our  possession. 
It  is  now  among  the  archives  of  the  University. 

Dr.  Evans,  in  his  account  of  Brown  University,  appended 
to  his  Life  of  Richards,  says  :  "  Whilst  the  library  of  my 
friend  Richards  remains  amongst  them,  to  perpetuate  the 
name  and  character  of  its  donor,  may  it  urge  its  worthy 
President,  as  well  as  the  members  of  this  truly  respect 
able  institution,  to  the  continued  exercise  of  that  spirit 
of  liberality  which  induced  an  honest  Cambro-Briton,  at 
the  distance  of  three  thousand  miles,  to  mark  and  reward 
it." 

The  last  letter  from  Manning  of  which  we  have  any 


448  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  X. 

account,  is  addressed  to  his  college  classmate  and  life-long 
friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  :  — 

PROVIDENCE,  4th  June,  1791. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

Yours  of  Feb.  15th  ult.  came  to  hand  three  months  to  a  day  after  it 
was  written,  so  that  we  now  stand  on  even  ground.  As  you  say  of  mine, 
it  met  a  welcome  reception.  I  am  sorry  it  has  not  been  in  my  power  to 
provide  for  Mr.  Messer  agreeably  to  my  wishes  and  ideas  of  his  merit. 
There  will  be  an  opening  at  Providence  for  a  tutor  in  the  fall  ;  but  Mr. 
Alden,  of  senior  standing,  appears  to  incline  to  fill  the  place.  If  so,  there 
will  be  an  opening  at  Taunton  in  the  academy  which  he  will  leave.  I 
hope  that  Mr.  Messer  may  be  accommodated  at  one  or  other  of  these 
berths.  Please  to  present  my  best  respects  to  him,  and  tell  him  he  shall 
have  my  interest.  Ere  this  comes  to  hand,  the  news  of  the  departure  of 
our  two  good  friends  Messrs.  John  Jenckes  and  Nicholas  Brown  must  have 
reached  vou.  Providence,  church,  and  society  are  bereaved  indeed  !  But 
Jesus  lives,  and  lives  to  support  his  cause  when  earthly  supporters  fail. 

The  affairs  of  the  college  do  not  prosper  as  I  could  wish.  With  the 
twenty-two  who  graduated  last  fall,  we  have  lost  twenty-nine  this  year, 
which  is  a  great  defalcation  from  our  small  number.  More  are  about 
to  come  soon,  but  I  think  it  will  be  some  time  before  we  shall  make  the 
number  of  last  year  good.  Our  number  is  about  fifty-five.  The  last  in 
telligence  from  Brother  Gano  is,  that  early  this  spring  his  kitchen  caught 
fire  by  accident,  and  consumed  with  it  all  their  kitchen  furniture,  smoked 
meat,  etc.  Poor  ill-fated  man  !  He  is  not  to  have  his  portion  here.  Well, 
I  believe  he  is  secure  of  it  above.  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  you  found  my 
friends  the  Newbolds  agreeable.  I  saw  Caleb  at  York  a  few  days  since, 
and  he  mentioned  you  with  great  affection,  as  also  all  the  eastern  people 
to  whom  he  was  introduced.  I  saw  none  of  your  relations  to  the  west 
ward,  as  my  journey  was  hasty  and  attended  with  business.  Nothing- 
remarkable  in  the  Middle  States  in  a  religious  way,  save  that  Brother 
Foster  and  people  are  very  happv  and  prosperous.  The  Second  Church 
rent  again,  and  in  a  miserable  situation.  Our  old  friends  generally  well. 
My  brother  Enoch  died  in  February  last,  and  John  Manning,  Esq.,  my 
cousin  ;  also  Aunt  Randolph,  wife  of  Uncle  Ephraim.  The  people  of 
Providence  have  chosen  Mr.  Maxcy  for  their  minister,  and  he  has  resigned 
his  tutorship  and  accepted.  He  gives  very  general  satisfaction,  and  prom 
ises  usefulness.  Religious  impressions  are  not  all  erased  from  the  minds 


1789-1791.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 

of  the  people  here.     With  best  respects  to  you  and  lady,  in  which  Mrs. 

Manning  joins, 

Your  old  friend, 

JA3IES  MANNING. 

Dr.  Manning,  as  his  correspondence  shows,  had  repeat 
edly  and  earnestly  requested  his  people  to  seek  for  a  proper 
person  to  succeed  him  in  the  ministry.     This  he  did,  not 
because  his   interest   in   preaching   had    diminished,  but 
rather  on  account  of  his  multiplied  duties  as  President  of  ^ 
the  college,  which  would  not  permit  him  to  do  justice  to 
his  flock.     "  At  length,  in  a  most  honorable  way,  he  re 
signed  his  pastoral  office."     On  the  last  Sabbath  in  April, 
1791,  a  few  months  only  before  his  death,  he  preached  to 
the  people  of  his  charge  his  farewell  sermon.     The  occa 
sion  was  one  of  unusual  solemnity.     For  twenty  years  he 
had  been  to  them  their  spiritual  guide.     Under  his  teach 
ings  and  influence  the  church  had  been  greatly  improved 
in  its  discipline  and  worship,  and  the  society  had  become 
large  and  flourishing.  Revivals  had  attended  upon  his  min 
istry,  so  that  again  and  again  he  had  come  to  them  "  in  the 
fulness  of  the  blessing  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,"  announcing 
to  not  a  few  "glad  tidings  of  great  joy."    Scores  of  his 
hearers  he  had  led  down  into  the  baptismal  waters.     And 
now,  as  he  uttered  from  the  pulpit  his  last  affectionate  ad 
dress,  and,  as  if  in  prophetic  anticipation  of  his  approach 
ing  end,  expressed  the  improbability  of  his  ever  preaching 
to  them  again,  sorrow  filled  their  hearts,  and  their  emo 
tions  found  utterance  in  sobs  and  tears. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  corporation  held  on  the  13th  of 
April,  Dr.  Manning  had  notified  them  to  look  out  for  a 
successor  to  fill  his  place ;  and  shortly  after  preaching  his 
farewell  sermon,  he  had  made  a  request  in  writing  for  a 
meeting  of  the  Baptist  society,  to  make  arrangements  for 
38* 


450  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  X. 

finishing  the  meeting-house  and  lot,  stating  in  this  re 
quest  that  it  would  probably  be  his  last.  What  gave  him 
this  singular  presentiment  of  his  approaching  mortality, 
can  never,  perhaps,  be  ascertained.  It  proved,  alas  !  to  be 
but  too  well  founded.  On  Saturday,  July  23d,  he  dined 
at  the  hospitable  table  of  his  friend  Mr.  John  Brown. 
On  Sabbath  morning  following,  while  uttering  the  voice 
of  prayer  around  the  domestic  altar,  he  was  seized  with 
a  fit  of  apoplexy,  in  which  he  remained,  but  with  imper 
fect  consciousness,  till  the  ensuing  Friday,  when,  about 
four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  he  expired,  in  the  fifty-fourth 
year  of  his  age. 

The  sudden  death  of  a  man  who  was  universally  es 
teemed  and  loved,  and  who  had  filled,  for  so  many  years, 
such  various  and  commanding  stations  of  usefulness  and 
trust,  produced  throughout  the  entire  community  the  most 
profound  sorrow,  reaching  to  every  part  of  the  city  in 
which  he  lived.  When,  a  month  previous,  his  intimate 
friend  and  associate  Nicholas  Brown,  whose  munificence 
had  flowed  in  a  thousand  channels,  and  whose  example 
had  given  a  new  impulse  to  the  public  mind,  quitted  the 
scene  which  he  had  so  long  adorned  with  his  presence 
and  enriched  with  his  bounty,  it  was  to  be  expected  that 
there  should  be,  as  there  was,  a  general  expression  of  sor 
row  and  regret.  But  that  the  removal  of  a  Christian  min 
ister,  and  a  teacher  of  science  and  letters,  who  possessed 
none  of  the  advantages  of  wealth,  but  whose  later  years, 
on  the  contrary,  had  been  oppressed  by  economic  solicitude 
and  care,  should  produce  a  regret  so  universal  and  so  deep, 
"  is  a  pleasing  homage  "  —  adopting  the  language  of  Robert 
Hall  on  a  similar  occasion  — "  to  the  majesty  of  moral 
power  and  intellectual  greatness." 


1789-1791.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  451 

The  corporation  immediately  assembled  in  the  college 
hall,  when  the  death  of  the  President  was  announced  by 
the  Hon.  Jabez  Bowen,  LL.D.,  Chancellor.  Among  other 
demonstrations  of  respect  and  affection  for  the  deceased, 
a  committee,  consisting  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hitchcock  and 
Messrs.  John  Brown  and  George  Benson,  was  appointed 
to  wait  on  Mrs.  Manning,  and  express  to  her  their  sincere 
condolence  on  the  death  of  her  "  late  worthy  husband." 
Messrs.  Joseph  Russell,  Welcome  Arnold,  and  George 
Benson  were  also  appointed  a  committee  to  superintend 
the  funeral,  the  expenses  thereof  to  be  defrayed  by  the 
corporation. 

On  Saturday,  July  30,  the  next  day  after  his  death,  the 
remains  of  Dr.  Manning  were  conveyed  from  his  residence 
to  the  college  hall,  where  the  funeral  solemnities  were 
performed  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hitchcock,  at  that  time  the 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Providence,  and 
one  of  the  most  active  Fellows  of  the  college.  "  The  fu 
neral,"  says  Prof.  Goddard,  "  though  a  public  one,  was  no 
empty  pageant.  Multitudes  flocked  to  the  college,  to  look 
for  the  last  time  upon  a  face  which  had  so  often  beamed 
upon  them  in  kindness  ;  and  multitudes  followed  him  to 
the  grave  which  was  so  soon  to  hide  him  forever  from  their 
sight."  Indeed,  the  funeral,  in  the  language  of  the  Provi 
dence  Gazette,  was  thought  to  "  have  been  the  most  nu 
merous  and  respectable  ever  attended  in  town." 

The  corpse,  placed  upon  a  hearse,1  was  borne  to  the 
north  burying-ground,  where  it  now  rests  by  the  side  of 
Nicholas  Brown,  in  the  family  lot.  "United  in  life,  in 

1  We  have  it  upon  the  authority  of  the  late  Mr.  John  B.  Chaoe,  that  at  Dr. 
Manning's  funeral  a  hearse  was  used  for  the  first  time  in  Providence.  It  was 
imported  from  England. 


452  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  X. 

death  they  are  not  separated."     The  following  was  the  or 
der  of  the  funeral  procession  :  — 

STUDENTS. 

STEWARD. 

GRADUATES  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 

TUTORS. 
PROFESSORS  FOBES   AND   WEST. 

THE    CORPSE. 

MOURNERS  IN  A  COACH. 

CHANCELLOR  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  CORPORATION. 

CLERGY. 
PHYSICIANS. 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 
CITIZENS  IN  GENERAL. 

On  the  ensuing  Sabbath,  an  eloquent  and  impressive 
funeral  sermon  was  preached  in  the  Baptist  meeting-house, 
by  the  Rev.  Perez  Fobes,  LLJX,  pastor  of  the  Congrega 
tional  church  in  Raynham,  Mass.,  and  also  Professor  of 
Natural  and  Experimental  Philosophy  in  the  college.  A 
sermon  was  also  preached  on  the  same  day  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Maxcy,  Manning's  successor.  Both  these  sermons 
were  afterwards  published.  From  the  former  we  cannot 
forbear  making  brief  extracts :  — 

"  The  amiable  Manning  has  given  up  the  ghost ;  and  where  is  he  ? 
Not  in  the  college,  where  lately  we  saw  him  presiding  with  mild  dignity 
and  parental  affection,  greatly  beloved  by  every  member  of  that  collected 
family  ;  not  in  the  house  of  God,  where  he  often  met  you ;  nor  in  the 
pulpit,  where  you  have  so  frequently  heard  him  preach  the  glad  tidings 
of  great  joy ;  —  not  at  the  communion-table,  breaking  to  you  the  bread  of 
life,  and  praying  for  the  health  of  languishing  souls  ;  not  in  his  own 
house,  with  his  family  and  friends  around  him,  where  he  was  ever  known 
as  the  revered  head  and  illustrious  example  of  religion,  of  government, 
and  of  every  domestic  and  social  virtue.  No,  he  is  not  here." 


1789-1791. 


BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  453 


"  The  corporation  of  the  college,  with  the  instructors  and  students,  all 
feel  and  recognize  the  loss.  Their  hearts  echo  to  the  voice  of  mourning, 
to  the  deep-toned  bell,  and  to  all  the  badges  of  sorrow.  With  multitudes 
around  us,  we  have  dropped  the  involuntary  tear.  We  have  felt  the  sigh 
unbidden  heave,  and  followed  the  hearse,  solemn  and  slow,  with  a  nu 
merous  train  of  mourners,  all  united  in  the  attestation  of  high  esteem 
and  affection  for  the  lamented  man  of  God.  We  are  witnesses,  and  God 
also,  how  piously,  and  justly,  and  unblamably  he  lived  among  us,  —  we 
are  witnesses  to  the  amiableness  of  his  natural  temper.  How  pleasing 
his  condescension  and  affability  !  How  conspicuous  his  candor  and  im 
partiality,  even  in  circumstances  of  peculiar  trial !  These,  added  to  a 
strong  mind,  well  furnished  with  useful  learning,  and  with  ample  re 
sources  for  eloquence,  popularity,  and  pleasing  address,  rendered  him 
highly  esteemed  through  the  large  circle  of  his  acquaintance.  But,  alas  ! 
all  these  amiable  and  useful  qualities  could  not  exempt  him  from  the  fate 
of  mortals." 

To  the  foregoing,  we  add  several  letters  by  Dr.  Man 
ning's  intimate  friends,  announcing  his  death,  together 
with  extracts  from  a  Commencement  oration,  and  the 
circular  letters  of  the  Warren  and  Philadelphia  Associ 
ations.  The  following  letter  is  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Hezekiah  Smith  :  — 

BOSTON,  July  30,  1791. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

I  am  sorry  to  be  the  messenger  of  news  that  will  give  you  pain,  but  you 
must  know  it.  Dr.  Manning  was  taken  with  a  fainting  fit  last  Lord's 
Day  morning,  at  family  prayer,  and  expired  yesterday  morning,  at  half- 
past  four  o'clock.  The  complaint  was  of  the  apoplectic  kind.  He  had 
no  senses  from  the  time  he  was  taken.  Great  the  loss  to  his  amiable  wife, 
great  to  the  college  and  Baptist  interest  in  general.  But  the  Lord  reigns  ; 
submission  to  him  is  our  certain  duty.  We  must  immediately  look 
around  for  a  person  to  fill  his  place  ;  but  where  to  find  him  I  know  not. 
What  think  you  of  Mr.  Allison,  or  Dr.  Jones  ?  Has  the  former  had  a 
public  education  ?  Or  has  the  latter  the  various  qualifications  for  a  Presi 
dent  ?  You  and  I  must  exert  ourselves  on  this  occasion.  Friends  at 
Providence  and  elsewhere  will  expect  it.  Write  freely  to  me  on  this  sub 
ject.  I  suppose  it  will  be  best  that  Mr.  Howcll  be  desired  to  preside  at 


454  MANNING   AND  CHAP.  X. 

the  next  Commencement,  as  the  oldest  Fellow.     Peace  be  with  you 

Adieu. 

Yours, 

SAMUEL  STILLMAN 


The  following  letter  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Jones  gives 
particulars  of  Manning's  death  and  funeral.  It  was  written, 
it  will  be  observed,  in  behalf  of  the  members  of  the  cor 
poration  of  the  college,  and  in  an  informal  manner,  desig 
nates  Mr.  Jones  as  Manning's  successor  in  the  presidency. 

PROVIDENCE,  Aug.  3,  1791. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

Before  these  lines  will  come  to  your  hands  you  will  doubtless  have 
heard  the  melancholy  tidings  of  the  death  of  our  late  worthy  President 
Manning.  He  departed  this  life  about  four  o'clock  on  Friday  morning, 
the  29th  ult.,  after  an  illness  of  only  five  days,  during  which  time  he 
discovered  little  or  no  signs  of  reason.  His  funeral  was  attended  last 
Saturday.  It  was  the  largest  and  most  solemn  that  I  have  seen  in  this 
place.  I  need  not  tell  you  that  his  death  is  universally  lamented  by  all 
ranks  of  people,  but  the  loss  is  more  severely  felt  by  the  corporation  of 
the  college,  and  by  the  students  under  his  care.  As  he  was  the  founder  of 
the  college,  and  celebrated  for  many  shining  abilities  which  peculiarly 
qualified  him  to  preside  in  it,  we  are  apprehensive  that  the  institution 
may  suffer  a  temporary  relapse,  unless  some  known  and  established  char 
acter  can  be  induced  to  supply  the  vacancy  soon. 

At  a  meeting  of  as  many  of  the  corporation  in  this  town  as  could  be 
readily  convened  to  take  into  consideration  measures  relative  to  the  en 
suing  Commencement,  some  conversation  passed  about  the  election  of  a 
President,  when  it  was  the  voice  of  all  present  that  I  should  write  to  you 
on  the  subject,  and  call  on  you  for  assistance  on  this  occasion,  so  critical 
to  the  interests  of  the  college.  It  is  our  unanimous  and  very  earnest  re 
quest,  dear  sir,  that  you  will  come  to  our  help.  The  eyes  of  the  corpora 
tion  seem  fixed  on  you  for  a  successor  to  President  Manning. 

From  my  long  acquaintance  with  you,  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  of 
your  disposition  to  serve  the  best  interests  of  mankind.  A  door  seems 
now  opened  in  divine  Providence  to  call  forth  to  public  usefulness  those 
great  and  very  useful  talents  I  know  you  possess.  Let  me  entreat  you  to 


1789-1791.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY.  455 

consider  the  application  weightily.  I  am  sure  you  will  do  it  sensibly. 
I  am  to  request  a  line  from  you  in  answer,  by  the  first  post  after  the  re 
ceipt  of  this  letter,  or  as  soon  as  you  find  it  convenient  to  give  us  an  an 
swer  to  the  subject  of  it,  and  I  have  it  in  charge  in  particular  and  very  ur 
gently  to  request  your  attendance  with  us  at  the  ensuing  Commencement. 
Pray  give  my  respects  to  Mrs.  Jones,  by  whom  I  trust  I  am  still  re 
membered,  and  to  any  others  in  your  good  family  to  whom  I  may  be 
known,  and  to  inquiring  friends.  With  very  great  esteem,  I  remain,  dear 
sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend  and  very  humble  servant, 

DAVID  HOWELL. 

To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rippon,  of  London,  the  Rev.  Isaac 
Backus,  under  date  of  Aug.  19,  1791,  writes  :  — 

"  I  was  with  President  Manning  two  days  in  June  past,  and  when  I 
parted  with  him,  the  8th  of  that  month,  I  had  as  little  thought  of  its  be 
ing  the  last  parting  for  time,  as  at  any  parting  we  ever  had.  But  near 
night,  on  July  29,  I  received  a  line  from  Providence,  informing  me  of 
his  decease  at  four  o'clock  that  morning.  I  went  there  the  first  instant, 
and  met  the  college  corporation  the  next  day,  who  have  thought  of  Dr. 
Jones  for  his  successor,  if  he  can  be  obtained ;  but  we  have  no  idea  of 
obtaining  any  man  who  will  equal  President  Manning  in  all  respects,  at 
least  soon.  His  extensive  knowledge,  fervent  piety,  constant  study  to  be 
serviceable  to  mankind,  —  his  easy  access  to  every  class  of  people,  with  his 
gift  of  governing  so  as  to  be  feared  and  loved  by  all,  where  keen  envy 
did  not  prevail,  —  rendered  him  the  most  accomplished  man  for  that  sta 
tion  of  any  one  I  ever  saw.  Yet,  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  he  is 
gone,  as  universally  lamented  as  any  man  that  I  have  known." 

At  the  Commencement  in  1791,  an  "Oration  on  the 
Death  of  Rev.  President  Manning"  was  delivered  by  Sim 
eon  Doggett,  of  the  class  of  1788,  then  a  candidate  for  the 
Master's  degree.  Mr.  Doggett  was  a  tutor  in  the  college 
from  1791  to  1796.  He  afterwards  had  the  charge  of  an 
academy  in  Taunton,  Mass.  He  was  pastor  of  the  Con- 
•  gregational  church  in  Mendon,  Mass.,  from  1815  to  1831, 
and  from  the  latter  year  to  1846  was  the  pastor  of  the 


456  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  X. 

Congregational  church  in  Raynham.  He  died  March  20, 
1852,  in  the  eighty-seventh  year  of  his  age.  From  his  ora 
tion  on  Manning,  which  is  preserved  in  manuscript  among 
the  college  archives,  we  present  extracts :  — 

''  He  is  gone,  alas  !  never  to  return.  No  more,  0  Manning !  must  thou. 
grace  that  sacred  desk  with  thy  majestic  presence.  No  more  shall  the 
temple  of  the  Lord  seem  like  the  gates  of  heaven  from  the  sweet  droppings 
of  thy  lips.  No  more  shall  Christian  assemblies  be  moved,  be  pleased, 
be  instructed,  be  enraptured  by  thy  inspired  tongue.  No  more  shalt  thou 
lead  the  devout  heart  up  to  the  throne  of  God.  No  more  shall  thy  concil 
iating  tongue  and  precious  counsels  be  heard  in  church  and  state.  Thy 
placid  countenance,  thy  pleasing  converse,  thy  soft  and  graceful  manners 
shall  no  more  delight  the  friendly  circle.  No  more  shall  you,  respected 
patrons  of  yonder  seat  of  learning,  boast  of  the  shining  character  of  your 
President  and  friend.  No  more  shall  we,  my  dear  elder  brothers,  sit  in 
council  with  our  wise,  our  mild,  our  beloved  President O,  relent 
less  Death  !  —  not  even  the  worth  of  a  Manning  could  elude  thy  stroke. 
But  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  when  that  nursery  of  science,  planted 
and  reared  by  his  fostering  hand,  extending  its  branches,  began  to  require 
all  those  abilities  to  inspect  and  preserve  it  which  were  exerted  to  rear  it ; 
when  it  was  under  his  watchful  eye  and  industrious  hand  flourishing  in  all 
the  beauties  of  knowledge,  and  moulding  human  nature  into  her  most 
pleasing  forms ;  when  he  began  to  see  and  rejoice  in  the  fruit  of  his  labors, 
in  the  midst  of  all  his  glory,  cruel  Death  !  thou  hast  suddenly  snatched 
him  away,  and  hurried  him  to  the  grave Though  these  his  exer 
tions  to  increase  knowledge  were  almost  unparalleled,  yet  merely  to  in 
crease  knowledge  was  not  his  end,  but  the  means,  the  end  of  which  was 
to  regenerate  the  heart  and  to  advance  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  Hence, 
while  engaged  to  promote  learning,  he  was  still  more  engaged  to  promote 
religion.  Of  this  all  his  pupils  are  witnesses  who  have  seen  his  devotion 
and  enjoyed  his  instructions.  How  naturally  at  our  college  exercises 
would  a  very  slight  connection  lead  his  discourse  to  moral  and  religious 
subjects  !  Upon  these  subjects,  with  what  additional  ardor  would  he  dis 
course  !  These  occasions  seemed  to  add  new  life  to  his  faculties.  They 
would  add  warmth  to  his  heart,  brightness  to  his  understanding,  and  elo 
quence  to  his  tongue.  And  still  more  did  his  devotion  ever  show  that  his 
heart's  desire  and  constant  prayer  to  God  was  that  true  religion  might 


1789-1791.  BROWN  UNIVERSITY.  457 

flourish.  And  of  this  his  pupils  are  not  the  only  witnesses.  All  Christian, 
societies  within  his  extensive  acquaintance,  especially  those  of  this  town, 
are  also  witnesses.  It  was  this  which  led  him  to  the  study  of  divinity, 
and  finally  made  him  so  eminent  in  the  ministry.  It  was  this  which 
caused  him,  like  the  primitive  apostles,  to  travel  through  all  parts  of  the 

country  to  instruct,  to  purify,  to  organize,  and  to  confirm  the  church 

Perhaps  no  one  of  his  age  had  a  greater  influence  in  the  Redeemer's  king 
dom  ;  and  his  usefulness  was  parallel  with  his  influence.  And  was  it  not 
also  this  ardent  desire  for  the  triumph  of  religion  that  inspired  him  with 
such  distinguished  eloquence?  Few  preachers  of  his  age  spoke  like  him. 
He  moved,  he  pleased,  he  instructed  all  who  heard  him.  Notwithstand 
ing  the  diversity  of  dispositions,  and  the  indifference  of  hearts  in  Chris 
tian  assemblies,  his  eloquence  made  its  way  to  all.  Sometimes  clothing 
himself  with  the  threatenings  of  the  law,  he  seemed  to  thunder  forth  all 
the  terrors  of  Mount  Sinai,  causing  the  most  hardened  and  stubborn  sin 
ners  to  tremble  before  him.  At  other  times,  putting  on  the  garment  of 
mildness,  the  peace  of  the  gospel,  his  eloquence  breathed  naught  but  be 
nevolence,  diffusing  tenderness,  and  melting  all  hearts  into  grief  and  love. 
Thus  following  this  great  man  from  his  first  appearance  upon  the  stage 
of  active  life  to  his  disappearance,  we  invariably  find  him  holding  in  his 
left  hand  the  classics,  in  his  right  the  word  of  God,  with  his  eye  fixed 
on  the  good  of  mankind,  widely  diffusing,  as  he  passed  along,  knowledge, 
and  religion,  and  happiness.  Here  we  might  add  his  more  particular 
character.  We  might  amplify  the  majestic  but  mild  beauties  of  his  per 
son  and  appearance ;  the  vast  resources  of  his  mind ;  the  uncommon 
greatness  of  his  acquirements,  considering  the  activity  of  his  life  ;  his 
remarkably  amiable  disposition;  his  astonishingly  popular  talents,  and 
his  distinguished  and  inflexible  virtue  and  piety Time  not  afford 
ing  me  the  pleasure  of  further  addressing  the  particular  connections  of 
this  great  man,  I  proceed  to  ask  whether  a  character  so  distinguished,  so 
useful,  so  amiable,  could  possibly  be  the  object  of  detraction  ?  Alas  !  the 
depravity  of  human  nature,  it  could,  it  was.  But  mark  the  issue.  Where 
now  is  detraction  1  Confounded  with  shame  and  remorse,  she  has  forever 
hidden  her  head.  The  universal  lamentation  at  his  death,  the  surprising 
throng  of  mourners  at  his  funeral,  and  the  universal  approbation  of  his 
character,  have  eternally  stopped  her  mouth,  and  reflected  her  deadly 
shafts  back  upon  herself,  where  they  will  continue  to  sting  like  serpents, 
and  to  caution  her  to  be  careful  how  she  deals  with  real  merit." 


458  M  A  N  N I  N  G    A  N  D  CIIAP.  X. 

The  circular  letter  of  the  Warren  Association  alludes 
to  the  death  of  Maiming  as  a  great  loss  in  Zion  :  — 

"  Should  we  close  this  letter  without  taking  notice  of  the  providence 
of  God  in  the  removal  of  two  of  our  ministers  by  death  the  year  past,  we 
should  betray  a  criminal  inattention.  The  one  is  Brother  Nathaniel 
Green,  of  Charlton,  who  hath  long  sustained  a  good  character  in  our 
churches.  The  other  was  our  much  esteemed  Brother  JAMES  MANNING, 
D.  D.,  President  of  Rhode  Island  College,  whose  abilities  and  usefulness 
were  well  known  to  us  all,  and  whose  attention  to  the  interests  of  learn 
ing  and  religion  justly  claim  our  esteem.  Oh  that  the  great  Head  of  the 
Church,  in  whom  are  all  gifts  and  grace,  would  favor  us  with  other  per 
sons  of  equal  accomplishments,  that  thereby  the  breaches  in  the  walls  of 
Zion  may  be  built  up." 

From  the  circular  letter  of  the  Philadelphia  Associa 
tion  we  also  make  an  extract :  — 

"  But  our  joys  abate,  while  we  reflect  on  the  heavy  tidings,  so  generally 
mentioned  in  your  letters,  of  the  death  of  our  highly  esteemed  and  dearly 
beloved  brother,  DR.  MANNING  ;  who,  engaged  in  the  dearest  interests  of 
religion,  of  science,  and  the  prosperity  of  his  country,  fell  from  the  zenith 
of  glory  and  usefulness.  In  the  general  loss  we  sustain  an  important  part. 
No  longer  shall  we  enjoy  his  able  counsels,  his  divine  and  persuasive 
eloquence,  nor  his  personal  friendship.  But  while  we  ti-ust  he  fell  to  rise 
to  higher,  to  celestial  glories,  and  joys  unspeakable,  resignation  becomes 
us.  May  the  Lord  sanctify  to  the  churches  and  ministers  of  Christ  the 
awful  stroke,  enable  us  to  feel  and  faithfully  discharge  the  duties  devolv 
ing  on  us,  and  imitate  his  amiable  example." 

A  review  of  Dr.  Manning's  life,  as  presented  in  the  sev 
eral  chapters  of  our  work,  affords  a  pleasing  illustration  of 
the  truth  which  Cowper  has  so  well  expressed,  — 

"  God  gives  to  every  man 
The  virtue,  temper,  understanding,  taste 
That  lifts  him  into  life,  and  lets  him  fall 
Just  in  the  niche  he  was  ordained  to  fill." 


1789-1791.  B 110 WN    UNIVERSITY.  459 

It  only  remains  to  add  a  few  particulars  relating  to  Man 
ning's  personal  appearance,  habits,  character,  and  influence. 
This  we  shall  do  in  the  language  of  his  intimate  friend, 
and  early  associate  in  the  instruction  of  the  college,  the 
Hon.  David  Howell,  who  wrote  his  obituary  notice,  and 
who  also  penned  the  inscription  upon  the  stone  erected  by 
the  Trustees  and  Fellows  of  the  college  to  his  memory. 
The  following  extracts  from  his  obituary  notice  were  orig 
inally  published  in  the  Providence  Gazette  for  Saturday, 
Aug.  G,  1791:  — 

"  In  his  youth  he  was  remarkable  for  his  dexterity  in  athletic  exercises, 
for  the  symmetry  of  his  body,  and  gracefulness  of  his  person.  His  coun 
tenance  was  stately  and  majestic,  full  of  dignity,  goodness,  and  gravity ; l 
and  the  temper  of  his  mind  was  a  counterpart  to  it.  He  was  formed  for 
enterprise.  His  address  was  pleasing,  his  manner  enchanting,  his  voice 
harmonious,  and  his  eloquence  almost  irresistible. 

"  Having  deeply  imbibed  the  spirit  of  truth  himself,  as  a  preacher  of 
the  gospel,  he  was  faithful  in  declaring  the  whole  counsel  of  God.  He 
studied  plainness  of  speech  and  to  be  useful  more  than  to  be  celebrated. 
The  good  order,  learning,  and  respectability  of  the  Baptist  churches  in  the 
Eastern  States  are  much  owing  to  his  assiduous  attention  to  their  wel 
fare.  The  credit  of  his  name,  and  his  personal  influence  among  them, 
have  never,  perhaps,  been  exceeded  by  any  other  character. 

"  Of  the  college  he  must  be  considered,  in  one  sense,  as  the  founder. 
He  presided  with  the  singular  advantage  of  a  superior  personal  appear 
ance,  added  to  all  his  shining  talents  for  governing  and  instructing  youth. 
From  the  first  beginning  of  his  Latin  school  at  Warren,  through  many 
discouragements,  he  has,  by  constant  care  and  labor,  raised  this  seat  of 

1  The  likeness  of  Dr.  Manning  accompanying  the  present  work  was  engraved 
from  an  original  portrait,  which  has  long  been  in  the  possession  of  Brown  Uni 
versity.  It  was  painted  in  the  year  1770,  by  Cosmo  Alexander,  a  Scotch  gentle 
man,  who  came  from  Edinburgh  to  Newport  about  this  time,  and  who  is  said  to 
have  patronized  Gilbert  Stuart,  and  to  have  given  to  him  his  first  lessons  in 
drawing.  He  returned  to  Scotland  in  the  winter  of  1772,  taking  young  Stuart 
with  him.  An  account  of  Alexander  may  be  found  in  "  Dunlap's  History  of  the 
Arts  of  Design  in  the  United  States." 


460  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  X. 

learning  to  notice,  to  credit,  and  to  respectability  in  the  United  States. 
Perhaps  the  history  of  no  other  college  will  disclose  a  more  rapid  prog 
ress  or  greater  maturity,  in  the  course  of  about  twenty-five  years. 

"  Although  he  seemed  to  be  consigned  to  a  sedentary  life,  yet  he  was 
capable  of  more  active  scenes.  He  had  paid  much  attention  to  the  gov 
ernment  of  his  country,  and  had  been  honored  by  this  State  with  a  seat  in 
the  Old  Congress.  In  state  affairs  he  discovered  an  uncommon  degree 
of  sagacity,  and  might  have  made  a  figure  as  a  politician. 

"  In  classical  learning  he  was  fully  competent  to  the  business  of  teach 
ing,  although  he  devoted  less"  time  than  some  others  in  his  station  to  the 
study  of  the  more  abstruse  sciences.  In  short,  nature  seemed  to  have  fur 
nished  him  so  completely,  that  little  remained  for  art  to  accomplish.  The 
resources  of  his  genius  were  great.  In  conversation  he  was  at  all  times 
pleasant  and  entertaining.  He  had  as  many  friends  as  acquaintances,  and 
took  no  less  pains  to  serve  his  friends  than  to  acquire  them. 

"  His  death  is  a  loss,  not  to  the  college  or  church  only,  but  to  the  world. 
He  is  lamented  by  the  youth  under  his  care,  by  the  churches,  by  his  fel 
low-citizens  ;  and  wherever  his  name  has  been  heard,  in  whatever  quarter 
of  the  civilized  earth,  the  friends  of  science,  of  virtue  and  humanity  will 
drop  a  tender  tear  on  the  news  of  his  death. 

"  His  amiable  lady,  the  wife  of  his  youth,  and  the  boast  of  her  sex, 
with  all  her  fortitude  of  mind,  which  is  great,  must  have  sunk  under  the 
distressing  loss  were  she  not  sustained  by  divine  grace.  May  Heaven  con 
tinue  to  support  her,  for  earth  must  have  lost  its  charms.  Few  persons 
ever  enjoyed  a  more  excellent  constitution,  or  better  health.  Increasing  cor 
pulence,1  occasioned  chiefly  by  his  confinement  to  the  labors  of  his  station 
(for  he  was  temperate  in  his  diet),  gave  him  some  complaints  of  ill-health 
of  late  years ;  but  what  in  particular  furnished  him  with  a  singular  pre 
sentiment  of  his  mortality,  is  unknown." 

i  Concerning  Dr.  Manning's  "  bulk,"  the  Hon.  William  Hunter,  one  of  his 
pupils,  thus  writes :  "  His  motions  and  gestures  were  so  easy  and  graceful  that 
ordinary  observers  thought  not  of  his  immense  volume  of  flesh,  and  those  who 
criticized,  admired  the  manner  by  which  it  was  spontaneously  wielded.  I  do 
r,ot  know  that  he  had  ever  read  Hogarth's  Analysis  of  Beauty,  but  he  moved  in 
his  line  of  grace." 


1789-1791.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 

Our  task  is  done.     We  have  endeavored  to  trace  the 
origin,  and  to  exhibit  the  early  progress,  of  Rhode  Island 
College,  or,  as  it  is  now  called,  Brown  University.     So  far 
as  possible,  we  have  allowed  the  writers,  the  actors,  and 
the  records  of  the  past,  to  tell  their  own  story  in  their  own 
way,  having  no  theories  to  advance,  and  no  interests  save 
those  of  truth  and  justice  to  subserve.     That  members  of 
the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Association  planned  the  college 
in  the  outset,  admits  not  even  the  shadow  of  a  doubt.     It 
was  designed,  in  the  language  of  the  preface  to  Morgan 
Edwards's   subscription   book,  "to  adorn  human  nature, 
and  promote  the  true  interests  and  happiness  of  mankind," 
by  disseminating  sound  knowledge  and  useful  literature. 
Its  main  design,  however,  was  to  secure  for  the  churches 
an   educated    ministry.     For   this   its  friends   toiled  and 
prayed,  amidst  difficulties  and  discouragements,  growing 
out  of  indifference  on  the  one  hand,  and  opposition  on  the 
other.     Under  the  auspices  of  its  devoted  President  it  be 
came  a  centre  of  influence,  and  a  rallying  point  for  the  de 
nomination,  «  greatly  promoting,"  says  Manning,  "  Baptist 
principles,  and  the    spread  of  civil  and  religious   liberty 

throughout  New  England, and  adding  respectability 

to  the  Baptist  profession." 

We  have  traced  the  career  of  Dr.  Manning  from  its 
commencement  to  its  close,  and,  so  far  as  our  materials 
would  admit,  have  made  him  his  own  biographer.  Our 
readers  have  thus  obtained  a  more  correct  idea  of  his 
character  and  life  than  could  have  been  obtained  by  any 
formal  delineation  of  his  virtues  as  a  man,  or  of  his  genius 
as  an  educator,  a  statesman,  and  a  preacher.  Devotion  to 
the  interests  of  the  college  appears  to  have  been  the  ani 
mating  motive  of  his  conduct,  and  the  improvement  and 
elevation  of  the  Baptist  denomination  through  the  college, 
39* 


4G2  MANNING    AND  CHAP.  X. 

the  object  and  aim  of  his  entire  professional  life.  The 
sentiment,  so  beautifully  expressed  by  Dr.  South,  that  "  the 
Spirit  always  guides  and  instructs  before  he  saves ;  and  as 
he  brings  to  happiness  only  by  the  ways  of  holiness,  so  he 
never  leads  to  true  holiness  but  by  the  paths  of  knowl 
edge,"  was  by  no  means  an  universal  sentiment,  it  will  be 
observed,  in  the  days  of  Manning.  The  Baptists  as  a  de 
nomination  were  not  specially  friendly  to  learning,  and  the 
provision  for  the  education  of  their  clergy  was  exceedingly 
limited.  To  the  work  of  removing  existing  prejudices 
against  collegiate  institutions,  and  of  securing  for  the  de 
nomination  to  which  he  was  attached  the  benefits  of  an 
educated  ministry,  he  devoted  his  best  energies.  His  men 
tal  acquisitions,  his  distinguished  piety,  his  great  ministe 
rial  excellence,  which,  combined  with  his  natural  gifts  and 
endowments,  gave  him  so  rare  and  so  extensive  an  influence 
over  the  minds  of  men,  were  all  alike  consecrated  to  this 
one  cherished  object.  For  this  he  declined,  at  the  begin 
ning  of  his  public  life,  the  call  of  the  church  at  Charleston, 
having  already  committed  himself  to  the  interests  of  the 
college.  For  this  he  resigned  his  pastoral  charge  at  War 
ren,  greatly  to  the  surprise  and  the  regret  of  his  people. 
For  this  he  perseveringly  labored  amidst  the  discourage 
ments  of  poverty,  the  opposition  of  enemies,  the  indifference 
of  friends,  and  the  conflicts  of  war.  To  benefit  the  college 
he  left  its  quiet  shades,  and  the  pulpit  where  his  labors  had 
been  honored  and  blest,  and  entered  the  arena  of  political 
strife;  and  when  his  object  was  attained,  so  far  as  it  could 
be  through  his  own  personal  exertions,  he  returned  from 
the  halls  of  Congress  to  his  accustomed  duties,  resisting  all 
the  allurements  of  political  life  and  the  public  distinctions 
to  which  his  talents  would  naturally  have  entitled  him. 
And  toward  the  close  of  his  career,  although  in  the  midst 


1789-1791.  BROWN    UNIVERSITY. 


463 


of  gracious  manifestations  of  the  Divine  presence,  and  en 
joying  the  emoluments  of  a  large  and  flourishing  church 
and  society,  which  had  been  built  up  mainly  through  his 
exertions,  he  again  and  again  requested  his  people  to  pro 
vide  a  successor  in  the  pastorate,  in  order  that  he  might 
give  himself  more  exclusively  to  the  care  of  the  college, 
and  to  the  great  work  of  laying  broad  and  deep  the  foun 
dations  for  an  educated  Baptist  ministry.  In  all  this  "he 
labored,"  says  Prof.  Goddard,  "  not  for  himself,  but  for 
others,  and,  in  language  breathing  a  holier  inspiration  than 
that  of  poetry,  may  be  conveyed  the  grand  moral  of  his 

life  :  — 

'Love  thyself  last; 

Let  all  the  ends  thou  aim'st  at  be  thy  country's, 
Thy  God's,  and  truth's.' " 

The  narrative  has,  in  several  instances,  presented  illus 
trations  of  sectarian  bitterness,  of  which  Manning  and  his 
associates  were  sometimes  the  objects,  and  also  of  the  un 
fair  dealings  to  which  the  college  in  its  infancy  was  sub 
jected,  but  it  is  only  as  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  times, 
and,  we  trust,  only  in  the  spirit  of  candor  and  of  historical 
fidelity.     The  animosities  and  strifes  of  a  hundred  years 
ago  have  long  since  been  buried,  and  both  the  college  and 
its  self-sacrificing  founders  are  enshrined  in  the  reverence 
and  affection  of  all,  of  every  ecclesiastical  name,  who  have 
shared  in  the  manifold  benefits  they  have  conferred  upon 
mankind.     May  the  record  here  made  of  the  consecrated 
benevolence    and   the  persevering   efforts  of  our  fathers 
stimulate  the  patrons  and  friends  of  Brown  University, 
which  now  enters  upon  the  second  century  of  its  exist 
ence,  to  renewed  exertions  on  its  behalf;  and  may  all  its 
scattered  sons,  and  the  religious  denomination  especially 
whose  present  prosperity  is  so  largely  due  to  his  intelligent 


464  MANNING  AND  BROWN  UNIVERSITY.         CHAP.  X. 

devoted  labors,  hold  in  grateful  remembrance  the  virtues, 
the  talents,  and  the  piety  of  JAMES  MANNING. 

"  Peace  to  the  just  man's  memory,  — let  it  grow 
Greener  with  years,  and  blossom  through  the  flight 
Of  ages;  let  the  mimic  canvas  show 
His  calm  benevolent  features ;  let  the  light 
Stream  on  his  deeds  of  love,  that  shun'd  the  sight 
Of  all  but  heaven;  and,  in  the  book  of  fame, 
The  glorious  record  of  his  virtues  write, 
And  hold  it  up  to  men,  and  bid  them  claim 
A  palm  like  his,  and  catch  from  him  the  hallow'd  flame." 


APPENDIX. 


/CHARTER  drafted  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
\J  Stiles,  and  presented  to  the  G-en- 
eral  Assembly  of  Rhode  Island  in  the 
month  of  August,  1763.1 

The  Governor  and' Company  of  his 
Majesty's  English  Colony  of  Rhode 
Island  and  Providence  Plantations, 
in  America,  in  their  General  Assem 
bly  held  at  Newport,  within  afore 
said  Colony,  on  the  first  Monday  of 
August,  Anno  Domini  One  Thousand 
Seven  Hundred  and  Sixty-Three, 
and  in  the  third  year  of  the  reign  of 
his  Majesty  George  the  Third  of 
Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland, 
King:  To  all  to  whom  these  pre 
sents  shall  come,  Greeting : 

WHEREAS,  institutions  for  liberal 
education  are  highly  beneficial  to  so 
ciety,  by  forming  the  rising  genera 
tion  to  virtue,  knowledge,  and  use 
ful  literature,  and  thus  preserving 
in  the  community  a  succession  of 
men  duly  qualified  for  discharging 
the  offices  of  life  with  usefulness 
and  reputation ;  they  have  therefore 
justly  merited  and  received  the  at 
tention  and  encouragment  of  every 
wise,  polite  and  well-regulated  State : 


CHARTER  granted  by  the  General 
\J  Assembly  of  Rhode  Island,  in  the 
month  of  February,  1764.2 

At  the  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  of 
the  Governor  and  Company  of  the 
English  Colony  of  Rhode  Island  and 
Providence  Plantations,  in  New  Eng 
land,  in  America,  begun  and  holden 
by  adjournment  at  East  Greenwich, 
within  and  for  the  Colony  aforesaid, 
on  the  last  Monday  in  February,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  One  Thousand 
Seven  Hundred  and  Sixty-four,  and 
fourth  of  the  reign  of  his  most  sa 
cred  Majesty  George  the  Third,  by 
the  grace  of  God  King  of  Great 
Britain,  and  so  forth. 

AN  ACT  FOR  THE  ESTABLISHMENT 

OF  A  COLLEGE  OR  UNIVERSITY, 

WITHIN  THIS  COLONY. 


"polite  "omitted. 


1  From  the  original  copy  in  Dr.  Stiles's  own  handwriting. 

2  Only  the  changes  and  additions  made  by  the  Committee  are  here  given.    See 
Chap.  I.  p.  50. 


4GG 


APPENDIX. 


And  whereas  a  public  school  or  sem 
inary,  erected  for  this  purpose  within 
this  Colony,  to  which  the  youth  may 
freely  resort  for  education  in  the  ver 
nacular  and  learned  languages,  and 
in  the  liberal  arts  and  sciences,  would 
be  for  the  advantage  and  honor  of 
this  government :  And  whereas  the 
Hon.  Stephen  Hopkins  Esq.,  the 
Hon.  John  Gardner  Esq.,  the  Hon. 
Samuel  Ward  Esq.,  the  Hon.  Wil 
liam  Ellcry  Esq.,  James  Honyman, 
Francis  Willett,  Simon  Peas,  Daniel 
Jenckes,  Jno.  Tillinghast,  Nicholas 
Tillinghast,  Joseph  Russel,  Edw. 
Scott,  Joseph  Clark,  James  Helmc, 
Esquires,  Col.  Elisha  Reynolds,  Col. 
Josias  Lyndon,  Col.  Benj.  Hall,  Col. 
Job  Bennet,  Messieurs  David  Cheese- 
brough,  Joseph  Jacob,  Nath.  Coggcs- 
hall,  Ephraim  Bowen,  William  El- 
lery  Jun.,  Gideon  Wanton,  Rev. 
Messrs.  Othniel  Cambell,  Edw.  Up- 
ham,  Jno.  Burt,  William  Vinal,  John 
Maxson,  Gardner  Thurston,  Ezra 
Stiles,  Marmaduke  Brown,  Samuel 
Aldborough,  Thos.  Moffat  M.D., 
George  Hazard,  Joshua  Clark  Esq., 
Samuel  Nightingale,  Shcrjashub 
Bourn  Esq.,  Messrs.  Nicholas  Brown, 
Thomas  Eyres,  Elnathan  Hammond, 
William  Rogers,  Jno.  Tanner,  Eze- 
kiel  Burroughs,  Henry  Pcckam,  etc., 
etc.,  appear  as  undertakers  in  this 
valuable  design:  And  thereupon  a 
petition  hath  been  preferred  to  this 
Assembly  praying  that  full  liberty 
and  power  may  be  granted  unto 
them  to  found,  endow,  order,  and 
a-ovcrn  a  College  or  University  with 
in  this  Colony;  and  for  the  more  ef 
fectual  execution  of  this  design  to 
incorporate  them  into  one  body  pol 
itic,  to  be  known  in  the  law  with  the 
powers,  privileges,  and  franchises 
necessary  to  the  purposes  aforesaid : 


erected  for  that  purpose 


for  the  general  advantage  and  honor 
of  the  government:  And  whereas 
Daniel  JenckesEsq.,  Nicholas  Tilling 
hast  Esq.,  Nicholas  Gardner  Esq., 
Col.  Josias  Lyndon,  Col.  Elisha  Rey 
nolds,  Peleg  Thurston  Esq.,  Simon 
Pease  Esq.,  John  Tillinghast  Esq., 
GeorgeHazardEsq.,Col,  Job  Bennet, 
Nicholas  Easton  Esq.,  Arthur  Fenner 
Esq.,  Mr.  Ezekiel  Gardner,  Mr.  John 
Waterman,  Mr.  James  Barker  Jr., 
Mr.  John  Holmes,  Solomon  Drown 
Esq.,  Mr.  Samuel  Winsor,  Mr.  Jo 
seph  Sheldon,  Charles  Rhodes  Esq., 
Mr.  Nicholas  Brown,  Col.  Barzillai 
Richmond,  Mr.  John  Brown,  Mr. 
Gideon  Hoxsey,  Mr.  Thomas  Eyres, 
Mr.  Thomas  Potter  Jr.,  Mr.  Peleg 
Barker,  Mr.  Edward  Thurston,  Mr. 
William  Redwood,  Joseph  Clarke 
Esq.,  Mr.  John  G.  Wanton,  and  Mr. 
Thomas  Robinson,  with  many  other 
persons,  appear  as  undertakers  in 
the  valuable  design :  And  thereupon 
a  petition  hath  been  preferred  to  this 
Assembly,  praying  that  full  liberty 
and  power  may  be  granted  unto 
such  of  them,  with  others,  as  are 
hereafter  mentioned,  to  found,  en 
dow,  order,  and  govern  a  College  or 
University  within  this  Colony ;  and 
that,  for  the  more  effectual  execu 
tion  of  this  design,  they  may  be  in 
corporated  into  one  body  politic,  to 
be  known  in  the  law,  with  the  pow 
ers,  privileges,  and  franchizes  neces 
sary  for  the  purposes  aforesaid : 


APPENDIX. 


4G7 


NOW,    THEREFORE,     KNOW     YE, 

that  being  willing  to  encourage  and 
patronize  such  an  advantageous  and 
useful  institution,  we,  the  said  Gov 
ernor  and  Company,  in  General  As 
sembly  convened,  do,  for  ourselves 
and  our  successors,  in  and  by  virtue 
of  the  power  and  authority,  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  this  Colony,  to  us 
by  the  Royal  Charter  committed,  en 
act,  grant,  ordain,  constitute,  and  de 
clare,  and  it  is  hereby  enacted, 
granted,  ordained,  constituted,  and 
declared  that  the  said  Stephen  Hop 
kins,  John  Gardner,  etc.,  etc.,  or 
such  and  so  many  of  them  as  shall 
within  six  months  from  the  date 
hereof  accept  of  this  trust  and  qual 
ify  themselves  as  hereinafter  direct 
ed,  and  their  successors,  shall  forever 
hereafter  be  one  body  corporate  and 
politic,  in  fact  and  name,  to  be 
known  in  law  by  the  name  of  the 

TRUSTEES  AND  FELLOWS  or 

COLLEGE  OR  UNIVERSITY  IN  THE 
COLONY  or  RHODE  ISLAND  AND 
PROVIDENCE  PLANTATIONS,  IN 
AMERICA;  the  Trustees  and  Fellows 
at  any  time  hereafter  giving  such 


honorable  and  useful 


granted  and  committed, 


that  the  Hon.  Stephen  Hopkins  Esq., 
the  Hon.  Joseph  Wanton  Jr.  Esq., 
the  Hon.  Samuel  Ward  Esq.,  the 
Hon.  William  Ellery  Esq.,  John 
Tillinghast  Esq.,  Simon  Pease  Esq., 
James  Honyman  Esq.,  Nicholas 
Easton  Esq.,  Nicholas  Tillinghast 
Esq.,  Darius  Sessions  Esq.,  Joseph 
Harris  Esq.,  Francis  Willett  Esq., 
William  Logan  Esq.,  Daniel  Jenckes 
Esq.,  George  Hazard  Esq.,  Nicholas 
Brown  Esq.,  Jeremiah  Niles  Esq., 
Joshua  Babcock  Esq.,  Mr.  John  G. 
Wanton,  the  Rev.  Edward  Uphara, 
the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Condy,  the  Rev. 
Marmaduke  Brown,  the  Rev.  Gard 
ner  Thurston,  the  Rev.  Ezra  Stiles, 
the  Rev.  John  Graves,  the  Rev.  John 
Maxson,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Winsor,  the 
Rev.  John  Gano,  the  Rev.  Morgan 
Edwards,  the  Rev.  Isaac  Eaton,  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Stillman,  the  Rev.  Sam 
uel  Jones,  the  Rev.  James  Manning, 
the  Rev.  Russel  Mason,  Col.  Elisha 
Reynolds,  Col.  Josias  Lyndon,  Col. 
Job  Bennet,  Mr.  Ephraim  Bowen, 
Joshua  Clarke  Esq.,  Capt.  Jonathan 
Slade,  John  Taylor  Esq.,  Mr.  Rob 
ert  Strettell  Jones,  Azariah  Dunham 
Esq.,  Mr.  Edward  Thurston  Jr.,  Mr. 
Thomas  Eyres,  Mr.  Thomas  Hazard, 
and  Mr.  Peleg  Barker,  or  such  or 
so  manv  of  them  as  shall,  with- 


468  APPENDIX. 

in  twelve  months  from  the  date 
hereof,  accept  of  this  trust,  and 
qualify  themselves  as  hereinafter  di 
rected,  and  their  successors,  shall  he 
forever  hereafter  one  body  corporate 
and  politic,  in  fact  and  name,  to  be 
known  in  law  by  the  name  of  TRUS 
TEES  AND  FELLOWS  OF  THE  COL 
LEGE  OR  UNIVERSITY  IN  THE  ENG 
LISH  COLONY  OF  RHODE  ISLAND 
AND  PROVIDENCE  PLANTATIONS, 
IN  NEW  ENGLAND,  IN  AMERICA; 

more  particular  name  to  said  Col-   the,  instead  of  "  said/' 
legc,  in  honor  of  the  greatest  and 
most   distinguished   benefactor,  or 
otherwise,  as  they  shall  think  proper ; 
which  name,  so  given,  shall,  in  all 
acts,  instruments,  and  doings  of  the 
said  body  politic,  be  superadded  to 
their  corporate  name  aforesaid,  and 
become  a  part  of  their  legal  appel 
lation,  by  which  it  shall  be  forever  forever  known  and  distinguished: 
after  known  and  distinguished :  And 
that,  by  the  same  name,  they  and 
their  successors,  chosen  by  them 
selves,    as    hereinafter    prescribed,    as  hereafter  prescribed, 
shall  and  may  have  perpetual  suc 
cession;  and  shall  and  may  be  per 
sons  able  and  capable,  in  the  law,  to 
sue  and  to  be  sued,  to  plead  and  to 
be  impleaded,  to  answer  and  to  be 
answered  unto,  to  defend  and  to  be 

defended,  in  all  and  singular  suits,  and  to  be  defended  against, 
causes,  matters,  actions,  and  doings, 
of  what  kind  soever :  And  also  to 
have,  take,  possess,  acquire,  pur 
chase,  or  otherwise  receive  and  hold 
lands,  tenements,  hereditaments, 
goods,  chattels,  or  other  estates;  of 
all  which  they  may,  and  shall,  stand 
and  be  seized,  notwithstanding  any 
misnomer  of  this  College,  or  the  Cor-  of  the  College, 
poration  thereof;  and  by  whatever 
name,  or  however  imperfectly  the 
same  shall  be  described  in  gifts,  be 
quests,  and  assignments,  provided  gift,  bequest,  and  assignment, 


APPENDIX. 


469 


or  benefactor  be  evident : 


the  true  intent  of  the  assignor  or 

benefactor  shall  be  evident:    Also 

the  same  to  grant,  demise,  aliene, 

lease,  use,  manage,  and  improve,  ac 
cording  to  the  tenor  of  the  dona 
tions,  and  to  the  purposes,  trusts, 

and  uses  to  which  they  shall   be 

seized   thereof:    And   full   liberty, 

power,    and    authority    is    hereby 

granted  unto  the  said  Trustees  and 

Fellows,   and    their    successors,    to 

found  a  College  or  University  within 

this  Colony,  for  promoting  the  lib 
eral  arts  and  universal  literature; 

and   with  the  moneys,  estates,  and 

revenues,  of  which  they  shall  from 

time  to  time  become  legally  seized 

as  aforesaid,  to  endow  the  same; 

and  erect  the  necessary  edifices  and    buildings  and  edifices  thereof,    on 

buildings  thereof  in  such  place  with-  such  place 
in  this  Colony  as  they  shall  think 
convenient;  and  generally  to  reg 
ulate,  order,  and  govern  the  same, 
appoint  officers,  and  make  laws,  as 
hereinafter  prescribed;  and  hold, 
use,  and  enjoy  all  the  liberties,  privi 
leges,  exemptions,  dignities,  and  im 
munities  enjoyed  by  any  college  or 
university  whatever. 

And  furthermore,  that  the  said 
Trustees  and  Fellows,  and  their  suc 
cessors,  shall,  and  may,  forever  here 
after  have  a  public  seal,  to  use  for 

all  causes,  matters,  and  affairs  what-   matters,  and  affairs  whatever, 
soever,  of  them  and  their  successors, 
and  the  same  seal  to  alter,  break,    same  to  alter 
and  make  anew,  from  time  to  time, 
at  their  will  and  pleasure;  which 
seal  shall  always  be  deposited  with, 
the  President,  or  senior  Fellow. 

And  furthermore,  by  the  authority 
aforesaid,  it  is  hereby  enacted,  or 
dained,  and  declared,  that  it  is  now, 
and  at  all  times  hereafter  shall  con 
tinue  to  be,  the  unalterable  constitu 
tion  of  this  College  or  University, 
40 


470 


APPENDIX. 


that  the  Corporation  thereof  shall 
consist  of  two  branches;  that  of 
the  Trustees,  and  that  of  the  Fellow 
ship,  with  distinct,  separate,  and 
respective  powers  :  And  that  the 
number  of  the  Trustees  shall  and 
may  be  thirty-five;  of  which  nineteen 
shall  forever  be  elected  of  the  denom 
ination  called  Baptists,  seven  shall 
forever  be  elected  of  the  denomina 
tion  v  called  Congregationalists  or 
Presbyterians,  five  shall  forever  be 
elected  of  the  denomination  called 
Friends  or  Quakers,  and  four  shall 
forever  be  elected  of  the  denomina 
tion  called  Episcopalians:  And  that 
the  succession  in  this  branch  shall  be 
forever  chosen  and  filled  up  from  the 
respective  denominations  in  this  pro 
portion,  and  according  to  these 
numbers,  which  are  hereby  fixed 
and  shall  remain  in  perpetuity  im 
mutably  the  same:  And  that  the 
Hon.  Stephen  Hopkins  Esq.,  the 
Hon.  John  Gardner  Esq.,  the  Hon. 
Samuel  Ward  Esq.,  the  Hon.  Wil 
liam  Ellery  Esq.,  James  Honcyman, 
Francis  Willct,  Simon  Peas,  Nicholas 
Easton,  Daniel  Jenckes,  Jno.  Tilling- 
hast,  Nicholas  Tillinghast,  Joseph 
Russel,  Edward  Scott,  Joseph  Clark, 
James  Helme,  Esqrs.,  Colonels  Eli- 
sha  Reynolds,  Josias  Lyndon,  Benj. 
Hall,  Job  Bennet,  Messieurs  David 
Cheescbrough,  Joseph  Jacob,  Nathl. 
Coggeshall,  George  Hazard,  John 
Wanton,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  John  Max- 
son,  Samuel  Aldbovough,  and  Gard 
ner  Thurston,  and  Joshua  Clark  Esq., 
Messrs.  Nicholas  Brown,  Elnathan 
Hammond,  Jno.  Tanner,  William 
Rogers,  Ezekiel  Burroughs,  Henry 
Pcckam,  etc.,  or  such  and  so  many 
of  them  as  shall  qualify  themselves 
as  aforesaid,  shall  be  and  they  are 
hereby  declared  and  established  the 


branches;  to  wit' 


And  that  the  number  of  the  Trustees 
shall  and  may  be  thirty-six;  of  which 
twenty-two  shall  forever  be  elected 
of  the  denomination  called  Baptists 
or  Anti-Pedobaptists,  five  shall  for 
ever  be  elected  of  the  denomination 
called  Friends  or  Quakers,  four  shall 
forever  be  elected  of  the  denomina 
tion  called  Congregationalists,  and 
five  shall  forever  be  elected  of  the  de 
nomination  called  Episcopalians; 
and  that  the  succession  in  this  branch 
shall  be  forever  chosen  and  filled  up 
from  the  respective  denominations  in 
this  proportion,  and  according  to 
these  numbers,  which  are  hereby 
fixed,  and  shall  remain  to  perpetuity 
immutably  the  same.  And  that  the 
said  Stephen  Hopkins,  Joseph  Wan 
ton,  Samuel  Ward,  William  Ellery, 
John  Tillinghast,Simon  Pease,  James 
Honyman,  Nicholas  Easton,  Nicho 
las  Tillinghast,  Darius  Sessions,  Jo 
seph  Harris,  Francis  Willctt,  Daniel 
Jenckes,  George  Hazard,  Nicholas 
Brown,  Jeremiah  Niles,  John  G. 
Wanton,  Joshua  Clarke,  Gardner 
Thurston,  John  Graves,  John  Max- 
son,  John  Gano,  Samuel  Winsor, 
Isaac  Eaton,  Samuel  Stillman,  Russel 
Mason,  Elisha  Reynolds,  Josias  Lyn 
don,  Job  Bennet,  Ephraim  Bowen, 
John  Taylor,  Jonathan  Slade,  Rob 
ert  Strettell  Jones,  Azariah  Dunham, 
Edward  Thurston  Jr.,  and  Pclcg 
Barker,  or  such  or  so  many  of  them 
as  shall  qualify  themselves  as  afore 
said,  shall  be  and  they  are  hereby 
declared  and  established  the  first  and 
present  Trustees.  And  that  the  num 
ber  of  the  Fellows,  inclusive  of  the 
President  (who  shall  always  be  a  Fcl- 


APPENDIX. 


171 


first  and  present  Trustees .  And  that 
the  number  of  the  Fellows  (inclusive 
of  the  President,  who  shall  always  be 
a  Fellow),  shall  and  may  be  twelve; 
of  which  eight  shall  forever  be  elected 
of  the  denomination  called  Congre- 
gationalists,  and  the  rest  indifferent 
ly  of  any  and  all  denominations: 
And  that  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Edward 
Upham,  Othniel  Campbell,  John 
Burt,  William  Vinal,  Ezra  Stiles, 
and  Marmaduke  Brown,  Samuel 
Nightingale  Esq.,  Thos.  Moffat  M. 
D.,  Shcrjashub  Brown,  and  William 
Ellery  Jr.,  Esqrs.,  and  Dr.  Thomas 
Eyres,  or  such  and  so  many  as  shall 
qualify  themselves  as  aforesaid,  shall 
be  and  they  are  hereby  declared  and 
established  the  first  and  present  Fel 
lows  and  Fellowship,  to  whom  the 
President,  when  hereafter  elected, 
shall  be  joined  to  complete  the 
number. 

And   furthermore,  it  is   declared 
and  ordained,  that  the  succession  in 
both  branches  shall  at  all  times  here 
after  be  filled  up  and  supplied  accord 
ing  to  these  numbers,  and  this  estab 
lished   and    invariable    proportion, 
from  the.  respective  denominations, 
by  the  election  and  concurrence  of 
both  branches  of  this  Corporation, 
which  shall  at  all  times  sit  and  act 
by  separate  and  distinct  powers,  the 
concurrence  of  which  to  become  and 
produce  the  joint  act  of  the  Corpo 
ration  :    And  in  general,  that  in  or 
der  to  the  validity  and  confirmation 
of  all  acts,  there  shall  be,  in  the  ex 
ercise  of  their   respective   separate 
and  distinct  powers,  the  joint  con 
currence  of  the  Trustees  and  Fellows 
by  their  respective  majorities,  except 
in  adjudging  and  conferring  the  ac 
ademical  degrees,  which  shall  for 
ever  belong  exclusively  to  the  Fel- 


low)shall  and  maybe  twelve ;  of  which 
eight  shall  be  forever  elected  of  the 
denomination  called  Baptists,  or 
Anti-Pedobaptists,  and  the  rest  indif 
ferently  of  any  or  all  denominations : 
And  that  the  Rev.  Edward  Upham, 
the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Contly,  the  Rev. 
Marmaduke  Brown,thc  Rev.  Morgan 
Edwards,  the  Rev.  Ezra  Stiles,  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Jones,  the  Rev.  James 
Manning,  William  Logan  Esq., 
Joshua  Babcock  Esq.,  Mr.  Thomas 
Eyres,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Hazard,  or 
such  or  so  many  of  them  as  shall 
qualify  themselves  as  aforesaid,  shall 
be,  and  they  are  hereby  declared  the 
first  and  present  Fellows  and  Fellow 
ship,  to  whom  the  President,  when 
hereafter  elected  (who  shall  forever 
be  of  the  denomination  called  Bap 
tists  or  Anti-Pedobaptists),  shall  be 
joined  to  complete  the  number. 


And  furthermore,  it  is  declared  and 
ordained,  that  the  succession  in  both 
branches  shall  at  all  times  hereafter 
be  filled  up  and  supplied  according 
to  these  numbers,  and  this  estab 
lished  and  invariable  proportion, 
from  the  respective  donominations, 
by  the  separate  election  of  both 
branches  of  this  Corporation,  which 
shall  at  all  times  sit  and  act  by  sepa 
rate  and  distinct  powers;  and  in  gen 
eral,  in  order  to  the  validity  and  con 
summation  of  all  acts,  there  shall  be 
in  the  exercise  of  their  respective, 
separate,  and  distinct  powers,  the 
joint  concurrence  of  the  Trustees  arid 
Fellows,  by  their  respective  majori 
ties,  except  in  adjudging  and  confer 
ring  the  academical  degrees,  which 
shall  forever  belong,  exclusively,  to 
the  Fellowship,  as  a  learned  Faculty. 


472 


APPENDIX. 


lowship  as  a  learned  Faculty;  and  the 
election  of  a  President,  which  shall 
forever  belong  exclusively  to  the 
Trustees,  they  the  said  Trustees  con 
sulting,  advising  with  and  taking  the 
opinion  of  the  learned  Faculty  previ 
ous  to  their  choice  and  appointment 
of  such  a  learned  and  important  offi 
cer. 

And  furthermore,  it  is  constitu 
ted  that  the  instruction,  immediate 
government  of  the  College,  nomina 
tion  of  all  officers,  except  the  Presi 
dent,  together  with  the  origination, 
preparing  and  enacting  all  laws,  shall 
forever  be  and  rest  in  the  President 
and  Fellows  or  Fellowship ;  and  that 
the  election  of  the  President,  and  con 
firmation  of  all  officers  and  laws,  shall 
forever  be  and  rest  in  the  Trustees. 

And  furthermore,  it  is  ordained, 
that  there  shall  be  a  general  meeting 
of  this  Corporation  on  the  first  Wed 
nesday  of  September  annually,  with 
in  the  College  edifice,  and  until  the 
same  be  built,  at  such  place  as  they 
shall  appoint,  to  consult,  advise,  and 
transact  the  affairs  of  said  College 
or  University;  at  which,  or  at  any 
other  time,  the  public  Commence 
ment  may  be  held  and  celebrated. 
And  that,  on  any  special  emergency, 
the  President,  and  any  two  of  the 
Fellows,  or  any  three  of  the  Fellows, 
may  convoke,  and  they  arc  hereby 
empowered  to  convoke,  an  assembly 
of  the  Corporation  on  six  days'  no 
tice  :  And  that,  in  all  meetings,  the 
major  votes  of  those  present  of  the 
two  branches  respectively  shall  be 
deemed  their  respective  majorities 
aforesaid:  Provided,  that  not  less 
than  twelve  of  the  Trustees,  and 
eight  of  the  Fellows,  be  the  quorum 
of  their  respective  branches.  That 
the  President,  or,  in  his  absence,  the 


This  clause,  "  and  the  election  of  a 
President,"  etc.,  omitted. 


And  furthermore,  it  is  constituted, 
that  the  instruction  and  immediate 
government  of  the  College  shall  for 
ever  be  and  rest  in  the  President  and 
Fellows  or  Fellowship. 


This  clause, "  and  that  the  election  of 
a  President,"  etc.,  omitted. 


of  the  Corporation  on  the  first  Wed 
nesday  in  September 


of  the  college; 


special  emergencies, 

with  any  two 

Fellows,  exclusive  of  the  President, 


tAventy  days'  notice : 
major  vote 

and  five  of  the  Fellows,  be  a  quorum 


APPENDIX. 


473 


senior  Fellow  present,  shall  always 
be  Moderator  of  the  Fellows.  That 
this  Corporation,  at  their  annual 
meeting,  once  in  three  years,  or  of- 
tener  in  case  of  death  or  removal, 
shall  and  may  choose  a  Chancellor 
of  the  University  and  Treasurer  from 
among  the  Trustees,  and  a  Secretary 
from  among  the  Fellows.  That  the 
nomination  of  the  Chancellor  shall  be 
alternately  in  the  Trustees  and  Fel 
lows,  whose  office  shall  be  only  to 
preside  as  Moderator  of  the  Trustees ; 
and  that,  in  his  absence,  the  Trustees 
shall  choose  a  Moderator  for  the 
time  being,  by  the  name  of  Vice- 
Chanccllor.  And  at  any  of  the 
meetings,  duly  formed  as  aforesaid, 
shall  and  may  be  elected  a  Trustee 
or  Fellow,  or  Trustees  and  Fellows,  in 
the  room  of  those  nominated  in  this 
charter,  who  may  refuse  to  accept, 
or  in  the  room  of  those  who  may 
die,  resign,  or  remove  out  of  this 
Colony,  or  be  otherwise  removed. 
And  in  case  the  Corporation  shall 
omit  above  one  year  to  fill  up  any 
vacancy  or  vacancies  in  their  body, 
the  respective  branches  shall  and 
may  supply  the  succession  in  their 
own  separate  elections,  which  elec 
tions  shall  in  such  cases  be  complete 
and  valid. 

And  furthermore,  it  is  enacted, 
ordained,  and  declared,  that  this 
Corporation,  at  any  of  their  meet 
ings,  regularly  convened  as  afore 
said,  shall  and  may  elect  and  appoint 
the  President  and  Professors  of  lan 
guages,  and  the  several  parts  of  lit 
erature  (the  President  being  always 
chosen  by  the  Trustees  as  aforesaid) : 
And  upon  the  demise  of  him  or 
them,  or  either  of  them,  their  resig 
nation  or  removal  from  his  or  their 
office,  for  misdemeanor,  incapacity, 
40* 


shall  be  in  the  Trustees 
"  and  Fellows,"  omitted. 


of  their  meetings, 


Trustees  or  Fellows, 


resign,  or  be  removed. 

This  last  clause,  "And  in  case  the 
Corporation,"  etc.,  omitted. 


"  the  President  being  always  chosen 
by  the  Trustees  as  aforesaid,"  omit 
ted. 


474 


APPENDIX. 


or  unfaithfulness  (for  which  he  or 
they  are  hereby  declared  removable 
by  this  Corporation),  others  to  elect 
and  appoint  in  their  room  and  stead : 
And  at  such  meeting,  upon  the  nom 
ination  of  the  Fellows  (who  shall 
also  have  the  nomination  of  the 
Professors),  to  elect  and  appoint  tu 
tors,  stewards,  butlers,  and  all  such 
other  officers  usually  appointed  in 
colleges  or  universities,  as  they  shall 
find  nccessaiy,  and  think  fit  to  ap 
point,  for  promoting  of  liberal  educa 
tion,  and  the  well  ordering  the  af 
fairs  of  this  College;  and  them,  or 
any  of  them,  at  their  discretion,  to 
remove,  and  substitute  others  in 
their  places.  And  in  case  any  Pres 
ident,  Trustee,  or  Fellow  shall  see 
cause  to  change  his  religious  denom 
ination,  or  remove  out  of  this  Col 
ony,  this  Corporation  arc  hereby 
empowered  to  declare  his  or  their 
place  or  places  vacant,  and  may  pro 
ceed  to  fill  it  up  accordingly;  which 


"  who  shall  also  have  the  nomination 
of  the  Professors/'  omitted. 


"or  remove 
omitted. 


out  of  this  Colony," 


accordingly,     as     before    directed; 


upon  the  request  of  either  branch    "  which  upon  the  request,"  etc.,  to 


being  omitted  by  the  body,  either 
branch  may  proceed  to  declare  and 
fill  up  their  vacancy  separately  as 
aforesaid;  otherwise  each  Trustee 
and  Fellow,  not  an  officer  of  instruc 
tion,  shall  continue  in  his  office  dur 
ing  life,  or  until  resignation.  And 
further,  in  case  either  of  the  religious 
denominations  should  decline  taking 
a  part  in  this  catholic,  comprehen 
sive,  and  liberal  institution,  the  Trus 
tees  and  Fellows  shall  and  may  com 
plete  their  number,  by  electing  from 
their  respective  denominations  in 
differently,  always  preserving  their 
respective  proportions  herein  before 
prescribed  and  determined :  And  all 
elections  shall  be  by  ballot,  or  writ 
ten  suffrage :  And  that  a  quorum  of 
four  Trustees  and  three  Fellows  may 


the  word  "  otherwise,"  omitted. 


indifferently  "  omitted. 


APPENDIX. 


475 


transact    any   business,    excepting 
placing  the  college  edifice,  election 

of  Trustees,  President,  Fellows  or   Fellows  and  Professors, 
Professors,  that  is  to  say,  so  that 
their  act  shall  be  of  force  and  valid 
ity  until  the  next  annual  meeting, 
and  no  longer. 

And  it  is  further  enacted  and  or 
dained  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
that  each  Trustee  and  Fellow,  as 
well  those  nominated  in  this  Charter 
as  all  that  shall  hereafter  be  duly 
elected,  shall,  previous  to  their  acting 
in  a  corporate  capacity,  take  the  en 
gagement  of  allegiance  prescribed 
by  law  of  this  Government  to  his  of  this  Colony 
Majesty  King  George  the  Third,  his 
heirs  and  rightful  successors  to  the 
crown  of  Great  Britain,  which  en 
gagement  shall  be  administered  to 
the  present  Trustees  and  Fellows  by 
the  Governor  or  Deputy-Governor 
of  this  Colony,  and  to  those  from 
time  to  time  hereafter  elected  by  their 
respective  Moderators,  who  are  here 
by  empowered  to  administer  the 
same. 

And  still  more  clearly  to  define 
and  ascertain  the  respective  powers 
of  the  two  branches,  on  making  and 
enacting  laws,  it  is  further  ordained 
and  declared,  that  the  Fellowship 
shall  have  power,  and  they  are  here 
by  empowered  from  time  to  time, 
and  at  all  times  hereafter,  to  make, 
enact,  and  publish  all  such  laws, 
statutes,  regulations,  and  ordinances, 
with  penalties,  as  to  them  shall  seem 
meet,  for  the  successful  instruction 
and  government  of  said  College  or 
University,  not  contrary  to  the  spirit, 
extent,  true  meaning,  and  intention 
of  the  acts  of  the  British  Parliament 
or  the  laws  of  this  Colony;  and  the 
same  laws,  statutes,  and  ordinances 
to  repeal :  Which  laws,  and  the  re- 


476 


APPENDIX. 


peals  thereof,  shall  be  laid  before  the 
Trustees,  and  with  their  approba 
tion  shall  be  of  force  and  validity, 
but  not  otherwise.  And  further,  the 
Trustees  and  Fellows,  at  their  meet 
ings  aforesaid,  shall  ascertain  the 
salaries  of  the  respective  officers, 
and  order  the  moneys  assessed  on 
the  students  for  tuition,  fines,  and 
incidental  expenses,  to  be  collected 
by  the  Steward,  or  such  other  officer 
as  they  shall  appoint  to  collect  the 
same;  and  the  same  with  their  rev 
enues,  and  other  College  estates  in 
the  hands  of  the  Treasurer,  to  ap 
propriate  in  discharging  salaries  and 
other  College  debts :  And  the  College 
accounts  shall  be  annually  audited 
in  the  meeting  of  the  Corporation. 

And  furthermore,  it  is  hereby  en 
acted  and  declared,  that  into  this 
liberal  and  catholic  institution  shall 
never  be  admitted  any  religious  tests ; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  all  the  mem 
bers  hereof  shall  forever  enjoy  full, 
free,  unmolested,  and  absolute  liber 
ty  of  conscience :  And  that  the  places 
of  Presidents,  Professors,  Tutors, 
and  all  other  officers,  shall  be  free 
and  open  for  all  denominations  of 
Protestants:  And  that  youth  of  all 
religious  denominations  shall  and 
may  be  freely  admitted  to  the  equal 
advantages,  emoluments,and  honors 
of  this  College  or  University;  and 
shall  receive  a  like  fair,  generous, and 
equal  treatment  during  their  resi 
dence  therein,  they  conducting  them 
selves  peaceably,  and  conforming  to 
the  laws  and  statutes  thereof:  And 
that  to  all  the  purposes  of  this  Cor 
poration  persons  of  different  sects 
shall  be  sufficiently  distinguished 
and  known  by  their  free  profession 
or  declaration,  and  by  their  general 
attendance  on  the  public  worship  of 


audited  and  adjusted 


full,  free,  absolute,  and  uninterrupted 
liberty  of  conscience : 
And  that  the  places  of  Professors, 
Tutors,  and  all  other  officers,    the 
President  alone  excepted, 


the,  instead  of  "this." 


The  rest  of  this  section,  beginning 
"  And  that  to  all  the  purposes,"  and 
ending  with  "  morals  of  the  College" 
(p.  478),  omitted.  In  place  thereof, 
the  following:  And  that  the  public 
teaching  shall,  in  general,  respect  the 
sciences ;  and  that  the  sectarian  differ- 


APPENDIX.  477 

their  respective  denominations :  And    ences  of  opinion  shall  not  make  any 
it  is  hereby  ordained  and  declared,    part  of  the  public  and  classical  instruc- 
that  in  this  College  shall  no  undue    tion :  Although  all  religious  contro- 
methods  or  arts  be  practised  to  al-    versies  may  be  studied  freely,  exam- 
lure  and  proselyte  one  another,  or    ined,  and  explained  by  the  President, 
to  insinuate  the  peculiar  principles    Professors,  and  Tutors,  in  a  personal, 
of  any  one  or  other  of  the  dcnomi-    separate,  and  distinct  manner,  to  the 
nations  into  the  youth  in  general;    youth  of  any  or  each  denomination : 
which,  as  well  as  the  monopoly  of   And  above  all,  a  constant  regard  be 
offices,  might  discourage  the  send-    paid  to,  and  effectual  care  taken  of, 
ing  of  students  to  this  College,  in-   the  morals  of  the  College, 
volve  unhappy  controversies  among 
the  instructors,  and  defeat  this  good 
design  :  And  it  is  thereupon  agreed, 
declared,  constituted  and  established, 
that  everything  of  this  nature  shall 
be  accounted  a  misdemeanor,  mu 
tually  avoided  as  much  as  possible, 
and  by  all  the  denominations,  gen 
erously    disdained    and    discounte 
nanced  as  beneath  the  dignity,  and 
foreign  from  the  true  intention,  of 
this  Confederacy :  That  accordingly 
the  public  teaching  shall  in  general 
respect  the  sciences,  and  that  the 
sectarian  differences  of  opinion,  and 
controversies  on  the  peculiarities  of 
principle,  shall  not  make  any  part  of 
the  public  and  classical  instruction : 
Although  all  religious  controversies 
may  be  studied  freely,  examined,and 
explained  by  the  President,  Profes 
sors,  and  Tutors,  in  a  personal,  sep 
arate,  and  distinct  "manner  to    the 
youth  of  any  and  each  denomination, 
they   or    their  parents   requesting  the 
same.  And  that  in  this  the  President, 
Professors,   and  Tutors  shall  treat 
the  religion  of  each  denomination 
with  peculiar  tenderness,charity,  and 
respect;   so  that  neither  denomina 
tion  shall  be  alarmed  with  jealousies 
or  apprehensions  of  any  illiberal  and 
disingenuous  attempts  upon  one  an 
other,  but  on  the  contrary  an  open, 
free,  undesigning,  and  generous  bar- 


478 


APPENDIX. 


mony;  and  a  mutual  honorable  re 
spect  shall  be  recommended  and  en 
deavored,  in  order  to  exhibit  an  ex 
ample  in  which  literature  may  be 
advanced  on  Protestant  harmony, 
and  the  most  perfect  religious  lib 
erty  :  Yet,  nevertheless,  shall  be  pub 
licly  taught  and  explained  to  all  the 
youth,  the  existence,  character,  and 
dominion  of  the  Supreme  Being, 
the  general  evidences  of  natural  and 
revealed  religion,  and  the  principles 
of  moral  philosophy,  and  a  constant 
regard  be  paid  to,  and  effectual  care 
taken  of  the  morals  of  the  College. 

And  furthermore,  for  the  honor 
and  encouragement  of  literature,  we 
constitute  and  declare  the  Fellowship 
aforesaid  a  learned  Faculty ;  and  do 
hereby  give,  grant  unto,  and  invest 
them  and  their  successors  with  full 
power  and  authority,  and  they  are 
hereby  authorized  and  empowered  by 
their  President,  and  in  his  absence  by 
the  senior  Fellow,  or  one  of  the  Fel 
lows  appointed  by  themselves,  at  the 
anniversary  Commencements,  or  at 
any  other  times,  and  at  all  times  here 
after,  to  admit  to  and  confer  any  and 
all  the  learned  degrees, given  and  con 
ferred  in  any  of  the  colleges  or  uni 
versities  in  Europe,  and  particularly 
in  the  Universities  of  Cambridge  and 
Edinburgh  in  Great  Britain,  or  any 
such  other  degrees  of  literary  honor 
as  they  shall  devise,  upon  any  and 
all  such  candidates  and  persons  as 
the  President  and  Fellows,  or  Fellow 
ship,  shall  judge  worthy  of  the  ac 
ademical  honors:  Which  power  of 
conferring  degrees  is  hereby  restrict 
ed  to  the  learned  Faculty  alone,  who 
shall  or  may  issue  diplomas  or  cer 
tificates  of  such  degrees,  or  confer 
degrees  by  diplomas,  and  authenti 
cate  them  with  the  public  seal  of  the 


which  can  or  ought  to  be  given 


"  in  Europe,  and  particularly  in  the 
Universities  of  Cambridge  and  Edin 
burgh  in  Great  Britain,"  omitted.  In 
place  thereof,  the  words,  "  in  Amer 
ica,"  substituted. 


APPENDIX. 


479 


Corporation,  and  the  hands  of  the 
President  and  Fellows,  and  in  this 
case  with  the  hands  of  all  the  Pro 
fessors  as  witnesses,  and  deliver  them 
to  the  graduates  as  honorable  and 
perpetual  testimonies  thereof. 

And  furthermore,  for  the  greater 
encouragement  of  this  seminary  of 
learning,  and  that  the  same  may  be 
amply  endowed  and  enfranchised 
with  the  same  privileges,  dignities, 
and  immunities  enjoyed  by  the 
American  Colleges  and  European 
Universities,  We  do  grant,  enact,  or 
dain,  and  declare,  and  it  is  hereby 
granted,  enacted,  ordained,  and  de 
clared,  that  the  College  estate,  the 
estates,  persons,  and  families  of  the 
President  and  Professors,  for  the 
time  being,  lying  and  being  within 
this  Colony,  with  the  persons  of  the 


tutors,  graduates,  and  students,  dur 
ing  their  residence,  shall  be  freed  and 
exempted  from  all  taxes,  serving  on 
juries,  and  menial  services :  And  that 
the  persons  aforesaid,  together  with 
those  that  shall  have  received  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  or  any 
of  the  higher  degrees,  and  the  di 
ploma  thereof,  shall  be  exempted 
from  bearing  arms,  impress,  and  mil 
itary  service. 

And  furthermore,  for  establishing 
the  perpetuity  of  this  Corporation, 
and  in  case  that  at  any  time  here 
after,  through  oversight,  or  other 
wise  through  misapprehensions  and 
mistaken  constructions  of  the  pow- 


President  and  Secretary,  and  of  all 
the  Professors 


thereof  "  omitted. 


[This  clause  on  exemption  from  tax 
ation  was  changed  by  the  General 
Assembly,  at  its  February  session,  in 
1863,  the  Corporation  of  Brown  Uni 
versity  consenting,  as  follows :  "  The 
estates,  persons,  and  families  of  the 
President  and  Professors  for  the  time 
being,  and  of  their  successors  in  of 
fice,  shall  not  hereafter  be  freed  and 
exempted  from  taxes  for  more  than 
the  amount  of  ten  thousand  dollars 
for  each  of  such  officers ;  his  estates, 
person,  and  family  included."] 
"  graduates  "  omitted, 
residence  at  the  College, 

And  that  the  persons  aforesaid  shall 
be  exempted  from  bearing  arms, 
impresses,  and  military  services,  ex 
cept  in  case  of  an  invasion. 


480  APPENDIX, 

ers,  liberties,  and  franchises  herein 
contained,  any  laws  should  be  en 
acted,  or  any  matters  done  and 
transacted  by  this  Corporation  con 
trary  to  the  tenor  of  this  charter,  it 
is  hereby  enacted,  ordained,  and  de 
clared,  that  all  such  laws,  acts,  and 
doings  shall  be  in  themselves  null 
and  void :  Yet,  nevertheless,  the  same 
shall  not,  in  any  courts  of  law,  or  by 
the  General  Assembly,  be  deemed, 
taken,  interpreted,  or  ajudged  into 
an  avoidance,  defeasance,  or  forfeit 
ure  of  this  Charter;  but  that  the 
same  shall  be  and  remain  unhurt, 
inviolate,  and  entire,  unto  the  said 
Corporation,  in  perpetual  succession; 
which  Corporation  may,  at  all  times 
and  forever  hereafter,  proceed  and 
continue  to  act:  And  all  their  acts, 
conformable  to  the  powers,  tenor, 
true  intent  and  meaning  of  the  char 
ter,  shall  be  and  remain  in  full  force 
and  validity ;  the  nullity  and  avoid 
ance  of  any  such  illegal  acts  to  the 
contrary  in  any  wise  notwithstand 
ing. 

And  lastly,  We,  the  Governor  and 
Company  aforesaid,  do,  for  ourselves 
and  for  our  successors,forever  hereby 
enact,  grant,  and  confirm  unto  the 
.  said  Trustees  and  Fellows,  and  to 
their  successors,  that  this  Charter 
of  incorporation,  and  every  part 
thereof,  shall  be  good  and  available 
in  all  things  in  the  law,  according  to 
our  true  intent  and  meaning:  And 
shall  be  constructed,  reputed,  and 
adjudged,  in  all  cases,  most  favora 
bly  on  the  behalf  and  for  the  best 
benefit  and  behoof  of  the  said  Trus 
tees  and  Fellows,  and  their  succes 
sors,  so  as  most  effectually  to  an 
swer  the  valuable  ends  of  this  useful 
institution. 

In  full  testimony  of  which  grant, 


APPENDIX.  481 

and  of  all  the  articles  and  matters       Signed  and  sealed  at  Newport,  the 

therein  contained,  the  said  Governor  twenty-fourth  day  of  October,  in  the 
and  Company  do  hereby  order,  that  year  of  our  Lord  One  Thousand 

this  act  shall  be  signed  by  the  Gov-  [     >l]  Seven  Hundred  and  Sixty-five, 

ernor    and    Secretary,    and    sealed  and  in  the  fifth  year  of  His  Majesty's 

with  the  public  seal  of  this  Colony,  Reign,    George    the   Third,  by  the 

and  registered  in  the  Colony  Rec-  grace  of  God,  of  Great  Britain,  etc., 

ords :  And  that  the  same,  or  an  ex-  King. 

emplification  thereof,  shall  be  a  suf-  SAMUEL  WARD,  Governor. 

cient  warrant  to  the  said  Corporation  EDWARD  THURSTON,  Jr., 

to   hold,  use,   and  exercise  all  the  Deputy  Secretary. 

powers,  franchises,  and  immunities 
herein  contained. 

STEPHEN  HOPKINS,  Governor. 

HENRY  WARD,  Secretary. 1 


On  the  back  of  the  original  draft  of  the  Charter,  from  which  the  forego 
ing  has  been  copied,  is  written,  "  For  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cha.  Chauncy,  Boston," 
in  Dr.  Stiles's  handwriting,  and  also  the  following  remarks,  intended  evi 
dently  for  Mr.  Chauncy's  benefit :  — 

"  This  Charter  was  presented  to  the  Assembly  Aug.  1763 ;  recopied, 
with  some  alterations  by  the  Baptists,  in  October;  and  passed  the  Assembly 
February  1764.  Principal  alterations  were :  — 

1.  By  omitting  '  To  all  people,  etc.,  Greeting,'  in  the  initiatory,  address, 
the  subsequent  insertion  in  the  body  of  the  Charter,  "  Now,  therefore,  know 
ye,"  is  an  impropriety  in  clerkship. 

2.  The  Baptists  have  shown  a  greater  affection  for  all  other  denomina 
tions  than  for  the  Congregationalists. 

3.  Instead  of  eight  or  a  majority  of  Congregationalists  in  the  branch  of 
the  Fellowship,  according  to  the  original  agreement,  they  have  inserted 
eight  Baptists;    thus   assuming  a  majority  of  about  two  thirds  in  both 
branches,  hereby  absorbing  the  whole  power  and  government  of  the  Col 
lege,  and  thus,  by  the  immutability  of  the  numbers,  establishing  it  a  party 
college  more  explicitly  and  effectually  than  any  college  upon  the  conti 
nent.    This  is  the  most  material  alteration. 

4.  Most  of  what  is  contained  between  the  marginal  crotchets  in  page  6 
is  omitted;  and  the  whole  paragraph  for  securing  the  freedom  of  education 
with  respect  to  religion,  so  mutilated  as  effectually  to  enable  and  empower 

i  These  signatures  were  added  to  the  document  by  the  author.    Not  having 
passed  the  General  Assembly,  it  could  not,  of  course,  be  signed  and  sealed. 
-11 


482  APPENDIX. 

the  Baptists  to  practise  the  arts  of  insinuation,  and  proselyting  upon  the 
youth  by  private  instruction,  without  the  request  of  the  parents." 

These  remarks  are  by  the  author  of  the  original  draft  of  the  Charter  of 
Brown  University.  What  "original  agreement"  was  violated  by  the 
adoption  of  the  present  Charter,  in  what  respects  Brown  University  is  es 
tablished  "  a  party  college  more  explicitly  and  effectually  than  any  college 
upon  the  continent,"  referring  of  course  to  the  six  colleges  in  existence  in 
the  year  1704  (see  page  38),  and  how  the  paragraph  pertaining  to  religious 
freedom  and  sectarian  differences  of  opinion  "enables  and  empowers  the 
Baptists  to  practise  the  arts  of  insinuation  and  proselyting,"  we  leave  to  the 
judgment  and  candor  of  our  readers  to  decide. 


INDEX. 


ABBOT,  Daniel,  former  owner  of  part 
of  College  lot,  115. 

ABOLITION  of  the  slave  trade,  Dissent 
ers  in  England  petition  for,  407. 

ABOLITION  SOCIETY  OP  R.  I.,  Moses 
Brown  one  of  founders,  174. 

ABRAHAM,  182;  covenant  with,  255-6, 
320. 

ABRIDGMENTS  AND  ABRIDGERS,  de 
spised  by  Gov.  Hopkins,  368. 

ACADEMY,  Manning  proposes  to  estab 
lish  in  Kentucky,  357,  367. 

ACADEMICAL  FEATHERS,  188. 

ACADEMICAL  HONORS,  mode  of  con 
ferring,  214.  See  also  HONORARY. 

ACT  FOR  THE  RELIEF  OF  R.  I.  COL 
LEGE,  passed  by  Congress,  April  16, 
1800,  3S8. 

ADAMS,  John,  delegate  to  first  Con- 
gres?,  237;  opposes  the  Baptists  in 
conference,  238;  an  admirer  of  Dr. 
Stillman,  133. 

ADAMS,  Samuel,  delegate  to  first  Con 
gress,  237. 

ADDRESSES,  SERMONS,  etc.,  extracts: 
address  from  Baptist  church,  Phila 
delphia,  respecting  Winchester,  333; 
address  of  Warren  Association  to 
their  friends  and  countrymen,  320; 
address  of  Corporation  to  King  of 
France,  301;  Burges's  address  before 
Federal  Adelphi,  305;  Manning's  ad 
dress  in  behalf  of  Corporation  to  Gco. 
Washington,  434;  Washington's  re 
ply,  435;  Manning's  charge  to  gradu 
ating  class  of  1771,  193;  to  class  of 
1789,  425;  Doggett's 


oration  on  Manning,  456 ;  Robert  Hall 
on  death  of  Ryland,  23;  Fobes's  ser 
mon  on  the  death  of  Manning,  452; 
Stillman's  sermon  on  death  of  Nicho 
las  Brown,  158. 

AFFLICTIONS,  necessary,  210;  will  not 
alone  wean  from  the  world,  213. 

AGREEMENT  between  contending  par 
ties  in  Baptist  church,  Providence, 
154. 

AGRARIAN  LAW,  to  prevent  monopo 
lies  of  land,  359;  to  set  bounds  to 
an  insatiable  thirst  for  "  realizing," 
360. 

ALDEN,  Abner,  graduates  in  class  of 
1787,400;  inclined  to  fill  the  place  of 
a  tutor,  448;  master  of  the  famous 
school  at  Raynham,  401. 

ALDEN,  John,  and  Priscilla  Mullins,  of 
whom  Longfellow  sings,  401. 

ALDEN,  Noah,  represents  Bellingham 
church  at  first  meeting  of  Warren 
Association,  75;  Trustee  of  Baptist 
Education  Fund,  316;  Anti-Federal 
delegate  to  Mass.  Convention,  406. 

ALEXANDER,  Cosmo,  Scotch  artist, 
of  Edinburgh,  painted  Manning's 
portrait,  459. 

ALIBONE'S  Dictionary  of  Authors,  cited, 


ALISON,  Hugh,  classmate  of  Manning, 

33. 

ALISON,  Mr.   of  Bordentown,  277,  411. 
ALLEN,  Richard,  on  singing,  179. 
ALLEN,  Isaac,  classmate  of  Manning 

and  valedictorian,  33. 
Commencement  ALLISON,  Dr.  Burgess,  name  suggested 


484 


INDEX. 


by  Stillman,  as  successor  of  Manning, 
453. 

ALMY,  William,  son-in-law  of  Moses 
Brown,  175. 

AMERICA,  settlements  on  uncultivated 
lands.  359;  Granville  Sharp's  interest 
in,  362;  fair  daughters  of,  to  banish 
foreign  articles  from  their  dress,  400 ; 
dialogue  on  prospects  of,  412;  grow 
ing  greatness  and  prosperity  of,  442. 

AMERICAN  ACADEMY  OF  ARTS  AND 
SCIENCES,  162,  260. 

AMERICAN  ARMY,  increased  by  Con 
gress,  140. 

AMERICAN  BAPTIST  ALMANAC,  cited, 
239. 

AMERICAN  BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  UN 
ION,  jubilee  meeting,  239. 

AMERICAN  BAPTIST  CHURCHES,  Rip- 
pon's  Register,  intended  for,  441. 

AMERICAN  JENNER,  Dr.  Waterhouse 
the,  299. 

AMERICAN  QUARTERLY  REGISTER,  ci 
ted,  6. 

AMERICAN  REVOLUTION,  of  God,  318. 

AMERICAN  WAR,  John  Brown  a  leader 
in,  16G;  Smith's  letters  during  his 
service  in,  as  chaplain,  139-142;  Man 
ning's  history  of  the  times  during, 
311-317;  Gordon  the  historian  of,  421. 

AMERICANS,  crimes  towards  their  cred 
itors,  423. 

ANABAPTISTS,  settle  in  Providence, 
144 ;  College  represented  as  a  nest  of, 
192.  Sec  BAPTISTS. 

ANECDOTES:  John  Brown,  170;  Nich 
olas  Brown,  156;  John  Gano,  35;  mo 
ther  of  Stephen  Gano,  364;  Manning, 
259,  260,  300,  342,  379,  404;  llezekiah 
Smith,  138;  Washington  and  Dr. 
Rogers,  94;  Washington  and  Thom 
as  Mullett,  310;  Washington  and  his 
honorary  degree,  436. 

AMX-DOTES  of  the  College,  232.  See 
NARRATIVE. 

ANGELL,  Deborah,  married  to  Presi 
dent  Messer,  410. 

ANNIVERSARY  of  Independence,  in 
1779,  276. 

ANNIVERSARIES,  Commencement,  87. 


ANNUAL  expenses  of  a  College  student 
in  1788,  406. 

ANTIETAM,  Gen.  Rodman  fell  at  battle 
of,  397. 

ANTI-FEDERALISTS,  enemies  of  the 
"New  Constitution,"  403;  Maxcy's 
Fourth-of-July  oration  sarcastic  upon, 
402. 

ANTI-PEDOBAPTIST.    See  BAPTIST. 

ANTI-TRINITARIANISM,  223. 

ANTI-TRINITARIANS,  growth  of,  in 
England,  212. 

APOSTASY  of  Winchester,  327;  in  re 
ligion  during  the  war,  312. 

APPEAL  to  the  Public  for  Religious  Lib 
erty,  238. 

AQUIDAY,  Isle  of,  Rhode  Island,  144. 

ARISTOCRATIC  OPPRESSION,  landed 
possessions  tend  to,  359. 

ARMENIANS  and  Universalists,  328. 

ARNOLD,  Benedict,  Ward  serves  under, 
193. 

ARNOLD,  James,  manager  of  church 
lottery,  228. 

ARNOLD,  Jonathan,  delegate  to  Con 
gress,  167;  drafts  petition  to  Congress 
for  damages  done  to  College  edifice, 
290. 

ARNOLD,  Lyndon,  appointed  tutor, 437. 

ARNOLD,  Oliver,  Attorney  General  of 
Rhode  Island,  97. 

ARNOLD,  Richard  J.,  171. 

ARNOLD,  Thomas,  on  town  committee, 
to  draft  petition  to  Congress,  425. 

ARNOLD,  Welcome,  member  of  school 
committee,  419;  on  town  committee 
to  draft  petition  to  Congress,  425;  on 
committee  to  superintend  Manning's 
funeral,  451. 

ARNOLD'S  History  of  Rhode  Island,  ci 
ted,  64,  65,  82,  87, 170,  399. 

ARTICLES  of  Confederation,  inadequate 
to  purposes  of  government,  378. 

ASH,  Dr.  John,  of  Pershore,  England, 
worthy  of  College  honors,  100;  Dr. 
Richards  preaches  for  as  an  assistant, 
445. 

ASHFIELD,  oppression  of  the  Baptists 
in,  80, 185, 204 ;  stopped  by  order  of  the 
English  Government  through  the  in 
fluence  of  Dr.  Stennett,  217,  220. 


INDEX. 


485 


ASHFOUD,  Conn.,  231. 

ATONEMENT,  sermon  on,  in  opposition 
to  views  of  Priestley,  415. 

ATWELL,  Amos  M.,  valedictorian  of 
class  of  1788,  412. 

AUGUSTINE,  enmity  against  exhibited 
in  Eobinson's  History  of  Baptism,  439. 

BABCOCK,  Joshua,  present  at  first  meet 
ing  of  Corporation,  64;  at  meeting  to 
determine  final  location  of  College, 
110;  Major-General  of  Rhode  Island 
Militia,  66. 

BACKUS,  Isaac,  present  at  early  meet 
ings  of  Corporation,  67;  letter  to  Dr. 
Gill  respecting  Manning,  71;  clerk 
of  first  meeting  of  Warren  Associa 
tion,  74 ;  manuscript  minutes,  74 ;  pres 
ent  at  meeting  to  determine  final  lo 
cation  of  College,  110;  on  committee 
to  wait  upon  Manning,  112 ;  statement 
respecting  Chad  Brown  incorrect, 
144;  appointed  to  collect  materials  for 
history  of  Baptists,  204 ;  agent  of  Bap 
tist  churches,  appointed  to  attend 
Congress  of  delegates  at  Philadelphia, 
236;  journey  to  Philadelphia,  237; 
present  at  meeting  of  Corporation 
in  1782,  289;  trustee  of  Baptist  Edu 
cation  Fund,  316;  appointed  on  com 
mittee  of  grievances  by  Warren  As 
sociation,  330;  curious  fact  concern 
ing  first  volume  of  Church  History, 
376,  386j  delegate  to  Massachusetts 
Convention,  and  one  of  the  most 
powerful  men  of  Anti-Federal  party, 
404;  copies  and  publishes  Manning's 
charge  to  class  of  1789,  425;  writes  to 
Dr.  Rippon  announcing  death  of 
Manning,  455;  allusions  to  in  Man 
ning's  correspondence,  212,  222,  310, 
324;  in  Preface,  5;  Church  History 
of  New  England,  cited,  61,  62,  79,  81, 
153,  235,  289,  427,  444;  biographical 
sketch,  130-132.  See  LETTERS. 

BADGER,    Moses,    member    of    school 
committee,  419. 

BALDWIN,  Sylvester,  nuncupative  wil 
proved  by  Chad  Brown,  143. 

BALDWIN,  Thomas,  trustee  of  Baptist 
Education  Fund,  316;  Manning  una 
41* 


ble  to  attend  his  installation,  437; 
Baldwin,  Still  man,  and  Smith  preach 
ers  of  the  "  Commencement  ser 
mons,"  90. 

BALL,  Mr.,  of  Philadelphia,  279. 
BALOW,  Baptist  minister  in  Richmond, 

N.  H.,  186. 

BAPTIST  CHUKCII,  PROVIDENCE,  old 
est  in  America,  178 ;  Roger  Williams, 
Chad  Brown  and  descendants,143-176; 
mode  of  worship  in  early  times,  148, 
226;  history,  in  1770,  and  Manning's 
connection  with,  178-181;  reasons  for 
not  uniting  at  first  with  Warren  As 
sociation,  290;  glorious  revival  in 
1774-5,180,  246;  revival  in  1790,  432, 
437;  Manning  declines  the  pastoral 
care,  381,  382 ;  Ilezekiah  Smith  desired 
as  successor,  383,  432;  composed  of 
some  most  wealthy  men  in  State,  381  ; 
Manning  resigns  the  pastoral  care 
and  preaches  farewell  sermon,  449; 
Dr.  Gano's  connection  with,  35,365; 
large  number  of  communicants,  366. 
BAPTIST  MEETING-HOUSE,  PROVI 
DENCE,  old  house  built  in  1726,  de 
scription  of,  226;  present  house  built 
in  1774-1775,  account  of,  225-230;  John 
Brown  "  the  committee-man,"  168; 
monument  of  Joseph  Brown's  skill  as 
an  architect,  163;  engraved  for  Rip- 
pon's  Register,  English  astonished  at 
steeple,  440. 

BAPTIST  CHURCHES:  Ashford,  Ct., 
234;  Boston  (First),  134,  188;  New 
York,  35;  Haverhill,  136;  Lanjloffau, 
Wales,  443;  London  (Dr.  Gill's),  120, 
323;  Pennepek,  274;  Philadelphia,  44, 
92, 276,  277, 279,  331,  333-335 ;  Swanzey, 
103;  Warren,  68-71,  103;  Wrentham, 
105. 

BAPTIST,  committee  appointed  by  War 
ren  Association  to  prepare  catechism, 
291;  College  opposed  because  of  im 
portance  to  cause,  319;  government 
of  churches,  72;  churches  in  New  Eng 
land  steadfast,  328 ;  good  order,  learn 
ing,  and  respectability  of  churches 
much  owing  to  Manning,  459;  clergy 
of  New  England  loyal,  323;  liberal 
scheme  of  the  College  without  a  par- 


480 


I  N  D  E  X  . 


alel,  47;  origin  of  Education  Fund. 
316;  interest  in  England  more  flour 
ishing  than  Presbyterian  or  Inde 
pendent,  325;  zeal  and  liberality  of 
laymen  of  Providence,  120;  Ryland's 
list  of  educated  ministers  in  England, 
218;  number  of  ministers  in  England 
and  Wales,  216;  jubilee  of  Mission 
ary  Union  at  Philadelphia,  239 ;  Col 
lege  instrumental  in  promoting  prin 
ciples,  and  adding  respectability  to 
the  profession,  314,  318;  whole  con 
gregations  of  Congregationalists  em 
brace  the  principles,  346;  youth  to  be 
educated  at  Harvard  from  the  Hollis 
funds,  41;  Maxcy's  election  to  Presi 
dency  of  Union  College  objected  to 
because  a,  402. 

BAPTIST  SOCIETY  or  denomination 
satisfied  with  the  final  location  of  the 
College,  112,  114;  largely  indebted 
to  Williams,  Backus,  Smith,  Stillman, 
and  Manning,  105, 130;  Stillman's  in 
terest  in,  132, 133 ;  Roger  Williams  in 
strumental  in  planting  in  America, 
147;  Manning  well  acquainted  with 
state  of,  195;  regards  literature  with 
a  more  favorable  eye  through  influ 
ence  of  the  College,  308 ;  disposed  to 
aid  the  College,  but  unable  through 
poverty,  315;  increases  more  rapidly 
than  any  other  denomination,  328; 
especially  in  Virginia,  the  Middle  and 
Southern  States,  428;  gains  ground  in 
England,  386;  Winchester  excluded 
from  fellowship  of,333;  Brooks's  paper 
on  growth  of,  during  last  half  centu 
ry,  238 ;  largest  evangelical  denomin 
ation  in  United  States  with  a  single 
exception,  233,  239. 

BAPTISTS,  alone  originated  the  College, 
48;  represented  at  first  meeting  of 
Corporation,  G6;  Rhode  Island  the 
land  of,  42 ;  catholicity  of  well-nigh 
cost  them  loss  of  charter,  47;  early 
organization  of  in  New  England,  73; 
confession  of  faith,  80;  growing  un 
friendliness  towards,  41;  advocates  of 
civil  and  religious  freedom,  39,  81, 
136 ;  not  specially  friendly  as  a  denom 
ination  to  learning,  124,  462;  have 


mar.ifcstcd  indifference  to  their  his 
tory,  5;  "poor,  despised,  and  op 
pressed,"  58,315;  and  Congregation 
alists,  dispute  between,  38,  183;  in 
Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  182;  op 
pressions  of,  by  the  "  Standing  Or 
der,"  185,  186,  204,  217,  220,  231,  330, 
331,  339,  349;  appoint  day  of  fasting 
and  prayer  in  consequence  of  oppres 
sions,  186;  prejudices  against  greatly 
abated,  328 ;  controversy  between  and 
the  Independents  of  England,  442, 443 ; 
statistics  of  in  America,  in  176-1,  238. 

BAPTISM,  by  immersion  only,  a  tlivine 
institution,  122;  controversial  letter 
on,  253;  validity  of,  administered  by 
an  unbaptized  or  Pedobaptist  minis 
ter,  429,  431.  See  INFAJST-SPRINK- 
LING. 

BARKER,  Peleg,  present  at  first  meet 
ing  of  Corporation,  64;  at  meeting  to 
determine  final  location  of  College, 
110. 

BARKER,  married  into  the  Brown  fami 
ly,  155. 

BARRELS,  Manning's  papers  deposited 
in,  7. 

BARTLETT,  J.  R.,  efforts  in  obtaining 
collection  of  portraits,  397;  Colonial 
Records,  cited,  167, 197;  Bibliography 
of  Rhode  Island,  cited,  8. 

BARTON,  Mr.,  at  llopewell,  278. 

BARTON,  Wm.,  captor  of  Major-Gencral 
Prescott,  396. 

BAYLE'S  DICTIONARY,  presented  to 
College  Library,  370. 

BEACH,  Landlord,  268. 

BEACON  KILL,  Boston,  134. 

BEDBUGS,  prevent  sleep,  281. 

BEDDOME,  Benj.,  honorary  degree  con 
ferred  on,  128. 

BEDGEWOOD,  Nicholas,  assistant  to  Oli 
ver  Hart,  37. 

BELIEVER:S  BAPTISM,  71, 182. 

BELL,  Capt.,  betrothed  to  Miss  Howard, 
251. 

BELL  of  Baptist  meeting-house,  Provi 
dence,  motto 'on,  230. 

BELNAP,  Isaac,  281. 

BELTON,  Joseph,  member  of  first  grad 
uating  class,  88. 


INDEX. 


487 


BENEDICT,  David,  married  daughter  of 
Stephen  Gano,  366;  error  in  notice  of 
Chad  Brown,  144;  History  of  the 
Baptist  Denomination,  cited,  58,  74, 
144,  152,  353;  services  acknowledged 
in  Preface,  8. 

BENEFICENT  CONGREGATION  A  L  SOCI 
ETY,  Providence,  127. 
BENNETT,  Job,  connection  with  history 
of  College  Charter,  47,  54;  present  at 
first  meeting  of  Corporation,  64;  at 
meeting  to  determine  final  location 
of  College,  110. 

BENEVOLENCE  of  Nicholas  Brown's  dis 
position,  156;  Manning's  views  of,  353. 
BENSON,  Francis,  394;  subscribes  for  a 

set  of  Gordon's  History,  424. 
BENSON,  George,  friend  of  Thos.  Mack- 
ancss,  353;  on  committee  to  superin 
tend  Manning's  funeral,  451. 
BERKELEY,  Bishop,  description  of  New 
port,  113;  portrait  in  Ilhode  Island 
Hall,  397. 

BERRIDGE,  John,  Manning  reviews  his 
"  Christian  World  Unmasked,"  253- 
258. 
BIBLE,  records  the  sins  and  mistakes 

of  good  men,  193. 

BIBLE  SOCIETY,  of  Rhode  Island,  Mo 
ses  Brown  a  founder  of,  174. 
BIB  BIOGRAPHICAL  "  morceau  "  respect 
ing  Backus's  History,  372,  376. 
BIDWEL,  Widow,  26(5,  286. 
BIGGS,  Rev.  Mr.,  recommended  for  an 

"  academical  feather,"  217. 
BILL  OF  RIGHTS,  Massachusetts,  239. 
BINNEY,  Capt.  Barnabas, of  Boston,  157 
BINNEY,  Barnabas,  son  of  Capt.  Barna 
bas,  "  meek  young  Christian,"  159 
graduates  in    1774   with  valedictorj 
honors,  233;  sketch  of,  233,  234. 
BINNEY,  Avis,  daughter  of  Capt.  Bar 
nabas,  second  wife  of  Nicholas  Brown 
157. 

BINNEY,  Hon.  Horace,  son  of  Barnabas 
Nestor  of  the  Pennsylvania  bar,  233 
BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  :  Rev.  Isaa 
Backus,  130-132;  Barnabas  Biunej 
233,234;  Chad  Brown,  143-150;  Joh 
Brown,  151, 152;  Elder  James  Brown 
152-155;  James  Brown,  155, 156;  Nicl 


olas  Brown,    156-161;    Prof.  Joseph 
Brown,  1G2-166 ;  John  Brown,  166-173 ; 
Moses  Brown,  173-176;  Hon.  Nicholas 
Brown,  394-397;  Hon.  James  Burrill, 
LL.D., 413-414;  Dr.  Solomon  Drowne, 
346,  347;  Rev.    Isaac  Eaton,  25,  26; 
Hon.  Samuel  Eddy,  401 ;  Rev.  Morgan 
Edwards,  43-45;  Gov.  Stephen  Hop 
kins,  65,  338,  3G9;  Hon.  David  Howell. 
85,  86;  Rev.  John  Gano,  34-36;  Rev. 
Stephen  Gano,  M.D.,  364-3G6;    Wil 
liam  Gordon,  D.D.,  387;  Hon.  Daniel 
Jenckes,  51,  52;  Samuel  Jones.  D.D., 
274;  Jonathan  Maxcy,  D.D.,  401-403; 
Asa  Messer,  D.D.,  409-411 ;  Rev.  Benj. 
Miller,  26,  27;  Hezekiah  Smith,  D.D., 
135-142;  Rev.  Isaac  Stelle,  36;  Sam 
uel   Stillman,    D.D.,    132-135;    Rev. 
William   Richards,   LL.D.,    445-447; 
John  Rippon,  D.D.,  323;  Hon.  Ashcr 
Robbins,  329;  Prof.  William  Rogers, 
D.D.,  91-96;  Rev.  Charles  Thompson, 
103, 104;  Rev.  Augustus  M.  Toplady, 
202-204;    Gen.   James  Mitchell  Var- 
num,  96-102;  Dr.  Benj.  Waterhouse, 
299,  300 ;  Rev.  William  Williams,  104- 
106;    Jemima  Wilkinson,   312;   Rev. 
Elhanan  Winchester,  333-335. 
BISHOPS,  popular  right  of  electing,  361. 
BISSETT,  George,  present  at  early  meet 
ings  of  Corporation,  67. 
BITTERNESS  of  Congregationalists  to 
wards  College,  190-192. 
BLACK  WELL,    John,  educated   at  the 
Hopewell    Academy,    42;    Manning 
visits,  272. 

BLAIR,  Rev.  Dr.,  elected  to  the  Presi 
dency  of  College  of  New  Jersey,  27. 
BLAKE'S  Biographical  Dictionary,  ci 
ted,  401. 

BLASDEL,  Isaac,  baptized,  123. 
BLOOD,  Caleb,  on  committee  of  griev 
ances,  330;  removed  to  Vermont,  409. 
BLOSS,  Abraham,  represents  Attleboro 
church  at  first  meeting  of  Warren 
Association,  75. 

BOHEMIA,  a  monarchial  despotism,  359. 
BOLINGBKOKE    on     History,  text-book 

in  College,  305. 

BONNELL,  Levi,  educated  at  the  Hope- 
well  Academy,  42. 


488 


INDEX 


BOOKS,  imported  for  the  Library,  Man 
ning  disappointed  in  price  of,  36i. 

BOOTH,  Abraham,  character  and  works, 
223;  translation  of  Abbadie's  Treatise 
on  the  Divinity  of  Christ,  a  "  master 
ly  performance,"  385;  Fcdobaptism 
Examined,  a  laborious  and  important 
work,  341,  355,  433;  Essay  on  the 
Kingdom  of  Christ,  lays  the  axe  to 
the  root  of  infant-baptism.  428;  enti 
tled  to  assistance  from  friends  in 
America,  427;  believes  in  the  validity 
of  baptism  by  immersion  administered 
by  a  Pedobaptist  minister,  418.  See 
LETTERS. 

BORDEN,  Joseph,  dwelling-house  burnt 
by  British,  277. 

BORDENTOWN,  ravages  of  British 
troops  in.  277. 

BOSTON,  ravages  of  British  troops  in, 
140;  account  of  Dr.  Stillman's  meet 
ing-house,  134;  newspapers,  "inge 
nious  to  provoke,"  338. 

BOULTON,  William,  honorary  degree 
conferred  on  by  the  College,  89. 

BOURN,  Benj.,  member  of  school  com 
mittee,  419;  on  town  committee  to 
draft  petition  to  Congress,  425. 

EOWEN,  Benj.,  house  of,  119. 

BOWEN,  Ephraim,  distinguished  physi 
cian  in  Providence,  64;  present  at 
meeting  to  determine  final  location  of 
College,  110. 

BOWEN,  Ephraim.  actor  in  affair  of  the 
Gaspee,  172. 

BOWEN,  Jabez,  present  at  early  meet 
ings  of  Corporation,  G7, 110;  at  meet 
ing  iii  1780,  283 ;  honorary  degree  con 
ferred  on,  89;  Chancellor,  435,  451; 
on  committee  to  draft  letter  to  Benj. 
Franklin,  331;  subscriber  for  set  of 
Gordon's  History,  424;  member  of 
school  committee,  419. 

BOWEN,  Oliver,  owner  of  part  of  the 
original  College  lot,  116. 

BOWEN,  Dr.  Pardon,  graduate  in  class 
of  1775,  242. 

BOWEN,  Wm.,  honorary  degree  con 
ferred  on,  128. 

BOWERS,  David,  277. 


|  BOWERS,  Widow,  married  to  J.  Jenckes. 

398. 

BOWLES,  Capt.,  266,  286. 

DOYLE,  John,  printer  in  Boston,  238. 

BEAT'S  meeting-house,  N.  J.,  Manning 
preaches  in,  271. 

BRICK  SCHOOLHOUSE,  Providence,  119, 
193,  419. 

BRISTOL  ACADEMY,  Llewelyn  be 
queaths  his  library  to,  191. 

BRISTOL  EDUCATION  SOCIETY,  make 
valuable  donation  of  books  to  the 
College,  339;  sketch  of,  370;  referred 
to,  357. 

BRISTOL  COUNTY,  College  edifice  to  be 
erected  in,  108,  110. 

BRITISH,. probable  rupture  with  Gov 
ernment,  114;  first  blood  shed  in  war 
of  Independence,  171;  troops  take 
possession  of  Newport,  242;  land  at 
Elizabethtown  Point,  271;  ravages  in 
Danbury,  Ct.,  283;  fleet  at  Stony 
Point,  with  five  hundred  prisoners, 
taken  by  Wayne,  278;  encroachments 
of  Parliament,  233;  inhumanity.  283. 

BRITAIN,  Mr.,  calls  on  Manning,  277. 

BROTHER,  Esquire,  284. 

BROTHERLY  love  and  kindness,  more 
prevalent,  2G2,  238. 

BROOKFIELD,  Mass.,  Congregational- 
ists  of  oppress  the  Baptists,  331. 

BROOKS,  Kendall,  paper  on  growth  of 
Baptist  denomination,  239. 

BROWN  UNIVERSITY,  century  elapsed 
since  founded,  5;  Morgan  Edwards 
prime  mover  in  originating,  45;  sev 
enth  in  America  in  order  of  date, 38; 
account  of  origin,  39;  spirit  of  in  re 
lation  to  religion,  46;  and  the  War 
ren  Association,  82;  Commencement 
anniversaries,  87;  "Hope  College" 
and  "Manning  Hall"  erected,  395; 
engraving  of  and  of  ''  University 
Hall,"  107;  amount  of  benefactions 
and  bequests  from  ^Nicholas  Brown, 
395;  named  in  honor  of  Nicholas 
Brown,  GO,  157,  895;  account  of  por 
traits  in  Pdiode  Island  Hall,  396; 
Richards,  of  England,  bequeaths  his 
library  to,  447;  enters  upon  the  sec- 


INDEX. 


480 


ond  century  of  its  existence,  463.  See 
COLLEGE  and  MANNING. 
BROWN  FAMILY,  and  ancestors,  ac 
count  of,  143-176;  no  painter's  skill 
transferred  their  features  to  canvas, 
176. 

BROWN,  Chad,  ancestor  of  the  Brown 
family,  143;  statements  of  writers  re 
specting  date  of  his  arrival  in  Prov 
idence  incorrect,  144;  "first  Baptist 
elder  in  Rhode  Island,"  115;  College 
building  erected  on  his  home-lot,  115, 
146;  and  Roger  Williams,  145,  147, 
150;  biographical  sketch,  143-150. 
BROWN,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Chad,  144. 
BROWN,  John,  eldest  son  of  Chad,  151; 
marries  daughter  of  Obadiah  Holmes, 
the  "first  Baptist  martyr"  in  New 
England,  151;  biographical  sketch, 
151,  152. 

BROWN,  Martha,  daughter  of  John, 
married  to  Governor  Joseph  Jenckes, 
152. 

BROWN,  Daniel,  brother  of  John,  152. 
BROWN,  Elder  James,  second  son  of 
John,  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church, 
152,153;  liberal  and  catholic  spirit  of, 
154;  biographical  sketch,  152-154. 
BROWN,  James,  son  of  Elder  James, 
and  father  of  the  "  Four  Brothers," 
155;    agreement   in    controversy    on 
church  communion,  154;  biographi 
cal  sketch, 155, 156. 
BROWN,   Capt.  James,  eldest   son    of 

James,  died  in  Virginia,  156. 
BROWN,  Mary,  daughter  of  James,  mar 
ried  to  Dr.  David  Vanderlight,  156. 
BROWN,  Nicholas,  oldest  of  the  "  Four 
Brothers,"  156;  present  at  first  meet 
ing  of  the  Corporation,  64;  distin 
guished  merchant,  66;  present  at 
meeting  to  determine  final  location 
of  the  College,  110;  Hezekiah  Smith 
a  welcome  and  frequent  guest  at  his 
house,  138;  on  committees  of  Baptis' 
Society,  227;  appointed  by  Genera 
Assembly  chairman  of  committee  to 
manage  lottery  for  meeting-house 
228;  Manning  writes  to,  from  Phila 
delphia,  279;  present  at  meeting  o 
Corporation  in  1780,  288;  mentionec 


by  Dr.  Gordon  in  correspondence, 
394;  loses  his  new-born  son,  398;  sub 
scriber  for  set  of  Gordon's  History, 
425 ;  on  town  committee  to  draft  pe 
tition  to  Congress,  425;  sickness  of, 
437;  death  and  funeral,  158, 448;  men 
tion  of,  in  connection  with  death  of 
Manning,  450;  biographical  sketch, 
156-161.  See  LETTERS. 
BROWN,  Joey,  daughter  of  Nicholas, 
sickness  and  death,  382,  337,  347, 
351. 

BROWN,  Moses,  youngest  son  of  Nicho 
las,  graduates  in  class  of  1790,  435; 
early  death,  436. 

BROWN,  Hope,  daughter  of  Nicholas, 
married  to  Thomas  Poynton  Ives, 
157;  "Hope  College"  named  after, 
52,  395. 

BROWN,  Hon.  Nicholas,  son  of  Nicho 
las,  descendant  on  his  mother's  side 
of  Richard  Scott,  147 ;  marries  daugh 
ter  of  Benjamin  Stelle,  36;  graduates 
in  class  of  1786,  394;  name  of  Rhode 
Island    College   changed    to   Brown 
University  in  honor  of,  52,  66,  157, 
395;  full-length  portrait  of  in  Rhode 
Island  Hall,  396;  biographical  sketch, 
394-397.    See  LETTERS. 
BROWN,    John    Carter,    son    of  Hon. 
Nicholas,  has  complete  set  of  minutes 
of  Warren  Association,  82. 
SROWN.  Joseph,  second  of  the  "  Four 
Brothers,"  162;  present  at  early  meet 
ings  of  Corporation,  67;  at  meeting 
to  determine  final  location  of  the  Col 
lege,  110;  honorary  degree  conferred 
on,  128;   and  the  transit  of  Venus, 
165,  166;  on  committee  for  building 
meeting-house,    227;    architect,    163, 
230;  present  at  meeting  of  Corpora 
tion  in  1780, 288 ;  chairman  of  commit 
tee  to  draft  petition  to  Congress  for 
damages  to  College  edifice,  290,  292; 
appointed  on  committee  to  make  cat 
alogue  of  books,  298;  chosen  Profes 
sor^  f  Experimental  Philosophy,  330; 
engages    to    give    lectures     without 
charge,  331,  332;   has  shock  of  apo 
plexy,  347;    indisposition    of,  heavy 
stroke  to  church  and  College,  350; 


490 


INDEX. 


death  and  funeral,  164,  371 ;  biograph 
ical  sketch,  162-166. 

BROWN,  Mary,  oldest  daughter  of  Jo 
seph,  married  to  Dr.  Gano.  164,  366; 
funeral  sermon  of,  preached  by  Dr. 
Maxcy,  164. 

BROWN,  Eli/a,  daughter  of  Joseph,  mar 
ried  to  Richard  Ward,  164. 

BROWN,  Obaciiah,  son  of  Joseph, 164 ;  ad 
mitted  to  degree  of  A.B.  in  1782,  289. 

BROWN,  John,  the  third  of  the  "  Four 
Brothers,"  163;  leader  in  Khode  Isl 
and  in  war  of  the  Revolution,  167; 
connection  with  the  destruction  of  the 
"  schooner  Gaspee,"  170-173;  and 
Moses  purchase  the  home-lot  of  their 
ancestor  Chad  for  the  College,  115, 
116;  lays  the  corner-stone  of  the  Col 
lege  building,  now  "  University 
Hall,"  117;  elected  Treasurer  of  the 
Corporation,  242;  "  the  committee- 
man  "  for  carrying  on  the  building  of 
the  Baptist  meeting-house,  168,  227, 
228;  farm  at  Chepachet  or  Gloucester, 
266,  286;  present  at  meeting  of  Cor 
poration  in  1780,  288 ;  liberal  olTer  to 
Corporation,  298,  314;  presents  four 
teen  hundred  volumes  to  College  Li 
brary,  338;  subscriber  for  set  of  Gor 
don's  History,  424;  on  town  commit 
tee  to  draft  petition  to  Congress,  425; 
Manning  dines  with  on  day  previous 
to  fatal  attack  of  apoplexy,  450;  on 
committee  of  condolence  to  wait  on 
Mrs.  Manning,  451;  secures  (in  1800) 
passage  of  an  act  in  Congress  "  for 
the  Relief  of  the  Corporation  of 
Rhode  Island  College,"  388;  bio 
graphical  sketch,  166-173. 

BROWN,  James,  son  of  John,  170. 

BROWN,  Abby,  daughter  of  John,  mar 
ried  to  John  Francis,  170. 

BROWN,  Alice,  daughter  of  John,  mar 
ried  to  James  Brown  Mason,  170. 

BROWN,  Sarah,  daughter  of  John,  mar 
ried  to  Charles  F.  llerreshofi",  170. 

BROWN,  Moses,  youngest  of  the  "  Four 
Brothers,"  373;  papers  of,  cited,  115; 
member  of  school  committee,  419; 
portrait  of,  in  Rhode  Island  Hall,  396 ; 
biographical  sketch,  173-176. 


BROWN,  Anna,  wile  of  Slcscr,  and 
daughter  of  Obadiah  Brown,  173, 175. 

BROWN,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Moses, 
married  to  William  Almy,  175. 

BROWN,  Obadiah,  uncle  and  father-in- 
law  of  Moses,  173. 

BROWN  AND  BENSON,IOSC  four  thousand 
dollars  by  a  seizure  at  Surinam,  398. 

BROWN,  Daniel,  represents  Warren 
Church  at  first  meeting  of  the  Asso 
ciation,  75. 

BROWN,  Rev.  John,  of  England,  wor 
thy  of  College  honors,  190. 

BROWN,  Dr.  J.  N.,  article  on  the  Bap 
tists  in  New  American  Cyclopaedia, 
cited,  239. 

BROWN,  Jeremiah,  of  Ct,  266,  286. 

BROWN,  William,  present  at  meeting 
to  determine  final  location  of  the 
College,  110. 

BRUNSWICK,  Is .  J.,  injured  by  the  Brit 
ish,  272. 

BRYANT,  William  Cullen,  "  The  Ages," 
cited,  463. 

BRYSON,  James,  honorary  degree  con 
ferred  on,  89. 

BUCKLIN,  Joseph,  actor  in  affair  of 
Gaspee,  172. 

BUILDING  COMMITTEE  of  College  and 
of  church,  115.  227. 

BULL,  Capt.,  of  Hartford,  267,  286. 

BULL'S  IRON-WORKS,  268. 

BULLOCK,  Samuel  and  Daniel,  repre 
sented  Second  Rehoboth  Church  at 
first  meeting  of  Warren  Association, 
75. 

BUNKER  HILL,  battle  of,  influence  on 
College  Commencement,  242. 

BUNYAN,  "good  Mr.,"  Manning  sug 
gests  his  works  as  an  acceptable  pres 
ent  to  the  Library,  210;  works  pre 
sented  by  Wallin,  of  London,  212, 221. 

BURDEN,  Lizzie,  married  to  Mr.  Owen, 
269. 

BURGES,  Tristam,  pupil  of  William 
Williams,  105;  address  before  the 
Federal  Adelphi,  cited,  305;  on  elo 
quence  of  Maxcy,  401 ;  portrait  of,  in 
Rhode  Island  Hall,  396. 

BURKE,  Edmund,  eulogizes  John  How 
ard,  120. 


INDEX. 


491 


BURKE'S  ENCYCLOPAEDIA  OF  HER 
ALDRY,  cited,  143. 

BURGOYNE  AND  GATES,  141;  surreu- 
der  of  Gen.  Burgoyne's  army,  142. 

BURLING  AME,  Thomas,  Jr.,  154. 

BURNSIDE,  Major-General,  full-length 
portrait  of,  in  Rhode  Island  Hall, 

1    painted  by  E.  Leutze,  397. 

BURRILL,  James,  Attorney  General  of 
11.  1 ,  413;  graduate  in  class  of  1788, 
413;  sketch  of,  413,  414. 

BUTLER  HOSPITAL  ASYLUM,  Nicholas 
Brown  a  benefactor  of,  395. 

BUTTON,  William,  94. 

CADETS,  company  at  Commencement, 

233. 

CAESAR,  "  wrote  his  own  commenta 
ries,"  311. 

CAHOON,  Daniel,  meeting  of  Baptist 
society  held  at  his  house,  226;  mem 
ber  of  advisory  committee,  227;  pres 
ent  at  meeting  of  Corporation  in  1780, 
288. 

CAHOON'S  family  at  Woodstock,  Man 
ning  visits,  2Go! 
CALLENDER,  Ellis  and  Elisha,  pastors 

of  lirst  Baptist  Church,  Boston,  135 
CALLENDER,  John,  rcierred  to  in  Pref 
ace,  5;    Historical   Discourse,   cited, 
73,  149. 

CAMBRIDGE,    Mass.,    Baptists   in    op 
pressed  and  imprisoned,  331,  349. 
CANVAS,  the  Brown  family  not  painted 
on,  176;  1'resident  Maxcy  not  painted 
on,  403. 

CARPENTER,  Benjamin,  154. 
CARPENTER, William, represents  churcl 
in  Norton  at  iirst  meeting  of  Warrei 
Association,  75. 

CARPENTER'S  HALL,  Philadelphia,  237 
CARTER,  John,  printer,  1G4. 
CARYL;S   Exposition  upon  Job,  pre 
sented  to  College  Library  by  Gordon 
387;    Lamb's  playful  remark  upon 
387. 
CASH,  inconceivable  scarcity  of,  364 

386. 

CASTELL'S  Lexicon,  presented  to  Li 
brary  by  Bristol  Education  Society 
370. 


'ATHERINE  of  Braganza,  Queen  of 
Charles  II.,  portrait  in  Rhode  Island 
Hall,  396. 

CATHOLICISM,  instances  of,  437. 

CATHOLICITY  of  the  Baptists  well- 
nigh  cost  them  loss  of  charter,  47. 

}HACE,  John  B.,  451. 

HAMBERS'  CYCLOPAEDIA,  presented 
to  Library  by  Bristol  Education  Soci 
ety,  370. 

CHAMPION,  Judah,  of  Litchfield,  Man 
ning  preaches  for,  268. 
CHANCELLOR,    Stephen    Hopkins   the 
first,  64;  Jabez  Bowenthe  second,  67. 

,'HANNING,  William,  of  Newport,  Rob- 
bins  studies  law  with,  329. 

JHANNING,  William  El-cry,  portrait 
in  Rhode  Island  Hall,  397. 

CHAPEL  STAGE,  speaking  on  at  even 
ing  prayers,  305. 

CHAPLAINS,  Baptists,  in  the  American 
Army:  John  Gano,  35;  Dr.  Rogers, 
92;  Charles  Thompson,  103;  David 
Jones,  271;  William  Van  Horn,  273; 
Dr.  Smith,  136. 

CHARACTERS,  difficulty  in  describing, 
158. 

CHARITY,  exercise  of,  192;  should  be 
gin  but  not  end  at  home,  340. 

CHARLES  II.,  portrait  of  in  Rhode 
Island  llall,  3;J6. 

CHARLESTON,  attacked  by  the  British, 
271,  273. 

CHARLESTON  BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION, 
founded,  31;  plan  for  raising  funds 
for  Rhode  Island  College,  57,  58. 

CHARLESTOWN  NECK,  skirmish  at,  139. 

CHASE,  Mr.,  neighbor  of  Manning,  323, 
325, 326. 

CIIAUNCY,  Rev.  Dr.,  200,  204,  215; 
book  in  favor  of  universal  salvation 
makes  many  proselytes,  385;  Dr. 
Stiles  sends  first  draft  of  the  College 
Charter  to,  with  remarks,  481. 

CHILD,  Sylvester,  present  at  early 
meetings  of  Corporation,  67;  at 
meeting  to  determine  final  location 
of  College,  110. 

CHILD,  Cromel,  100. 

CHILD,  Martha,  wife  of  General  Var- 
num,  100. 


402 


INDEX. 


CHINA  and  East  Indies,  John  Brown 
first  Rhode  Island  merchant  to  carry 
trade  to,  166. 

CHRISTIAN  FORTITUDE,  easier  to  talk 
about  than  to  exercise,  408. 

CHRISTIAN  LIFE,  described  by  Wal- 
lin,210. 

CHRISTIAN  MINISTRY,  not  to  be  en 
tered  upon  while  a  stranger  to  exper 
imental  religion,  427. 

CHRISTIAN  REVIEW,  cited,  5. 

CHRISTIAN  RELIGION,  Gen.  Varnum's 
views  of,  101 ;  importance  and  effects 
of,  426. 

CHRISTIAN  WORLD  UNMASKED,  re 
viewed  by  Manning,  253. 

CHRISTIAN  UNION,  love  the  only  thing 
essential  to,  402. 

CHRONICLE,  cited,  233. 

CHURCH  OF  ENGLAND,  relations  of  to 
the  American  Colonies,  39,  255. 

CINCINNATI,  Order  of  at  General  Var 
num's  funeral,  100. 

CIRCUMCISION,  discussed  by  Manning, 
£53-258. 

CIVIL  AND  RELIGIOUS  LIBERTY,  Col 
lege  instrumental  in  promoting,  309, 
314,  318;  doctrines  of  better  under 
stood  than  before  the  Revolution,  339. 

CIVIL  GOVERNMENT,  nothing  to  do 
with  Christ's  kingdom,  72,  73. 

CIVIL  COMMUNITY,  kind  of  joint  ten 
ancy,  418. 

CIVIL  AND  RELIGIOUS  character  of  the 
age,  illustrated  by  Clark  and  Callen- 
der,  Backus  and  Manning,  6. 

CLARIDGE  on  singing  in  public  wor 
ship,  179. 

CLARK,  William,  honorary  degree 
conferred  on  by  the  College,  89. 

CLARKE,  Capt.,  of  Daubury,  283. 

CLARKE,  Mr.,  a  mystic,  324. 

CLARKE,  Dr.  John,  founder  of  New 
port  Colony,  151 ;  referred  to  in  Pref 
ace,  5. 

CLAUDE'S  ESSAY,  proposals  concern 
ing  circulated,  326. 

CLAY,  Joseph,  pastor  of  First  Baptist 
church  in  Boston,  135. 

CLEKGY  of  Connecticut.  See  CON 
NECTICUT. 


CLINTON,  Gov.,  of  Xc\v  York,  visits 
Providence  with  Washington,  433. 

CLOUGH,  Moses,  baptized,  122. 

COCHRANE,  Surgeon  General,  Manning 
meets  at  West  Point,  282. 

CODDINGTON,  William,  lirst  Governor 
of  Rhode  Island,  152;  portrait  in 
Rhode  Island  Hall,  396. 

COLBURN,  Josiah,  represents  First  Bap 
tist  Church,  Boston,  at  lirst  meeting 
of  Warren  Association,  75. 

COLE,  Benjamin,  represents  the  War- 
reii  church  at  first  meeting  of  Asso 
ciation,  75. 

COLE.  Robert,  146. 

COLEMAN,  printer,  of  London,  148. 

COLES,  Esquire,  of  Warren,  68. 

COLES,  Benjamin,  pastor  of  Baptist 
church  at  Ilopewcll,  271;  divided 
about,  278. 

COLLECTION  OF  PORTRAITS  in  Rhode 
Island  Hall,  396. 

COLLEGE  a  "Baptist College,"  43;  owes 
its  origin  to  the  Philadelphia  Associ 
ation,  43.  56,461;  main  design  to  se 
cure  for  the  Baptist  churches  an  edu 
cated  ministry,  42,  47,  461 ;  efforts  to 
raise  funds  for  by  the  Baptist  Asso 
ciations.  58,  291,  314,  320;  begun  at 
Warren,  67;  interests  to  be  secured 
by  formation  of  Warren  Association, 
72;  removal  to  Providence,  111,  118; 
illustration  of  early  discipline,  128; 
opposition  of  Congrcgationalists,  160, 
188, 190, 199, 319 ;  Commencement  din 
ners  first  provided,  169;  dispute  be 
tween  Baptists  and  Congregational- 
ists  an  argument  against,  183;  honors 
of,  189;  liberal  and  catholic,  193,  262; 
amount  of  funds  in  1772,  195;  regard 
ed  by  God  with -favor,  197;  printed 
history  of  recommended  for  circula 
tion,  206,  208,  212,  215,  217,  220,  222, 
232,  250;  Manning's  detail  of  facts 
and  instances  of  ill-will  towards,  215; 
Baptist  meeting-house  built  to  accom 
modate,  227,229;  students  'fine  young 
men,"  231  ;  revival  of  religion  in, 
245;  interrupted  during  the  war,  243, 
£89,313;  efforts  to  revive  College  in 
struction,  288;  petition  to  Congress 


INDEX. 


493 


for  damages,  292,  G48,  370,  388;  unable 
to  go  on  without  funds,  297;  digest 
of  laws  in  1783,  304;  text-books,  305 ; 
Manning  seeks  in  England  a  benefac 
tor  who  will  give  it  a  name,  308,  309; 
funds  preserved  amidst  wreck  of  pub 
lic  credit,  294,316;  promotes  Baptist 
principles  and  civil  and  religious  lib 
erty,  193,  309,  314,  318;  £200  sterling 
ordered  to  be  expended  for  philosoph 
ical  apparatus,  333;  receives  donation 
from  Bristol  Education  Society,  369; 
promises  better  than  at  any  former 
period,  335,  337;  embarrassed  for 
want  of  funds,  374,  397;  continues  to 
increase,  annual  expenses  of  a  stu 
dent,  406,  411 ;  Washington  and  suite 
visit,  433;  "affairs  do  not  prosper," 
448;  Dr.  Jones  named  as  Manning's 
successor,  274,  454;  Maxcy  appointed, 
401 ;  Messer  elected  to  the  Presidency, 
409;  receives  from  [Nicholas  Brown  in 
1792  the  gift  of  five  hundred  dollars, 
394;  iu  1804,  the  gift  of  live  thousand 
dollars,  394;  name  changed  to  Brown 
University,  396.  See  BROWN  UNIVER 
SITY  and  MANNING. 

COLLEGE  CHARTER,  Jenckes's  history 
of,  52;  different  denominations  repre 
sented  in,  46;  privileges  secured  by 
remarkably  ample,  47;  one  of  the  best 
college  charters  in  New  England, 
48;  alterations  made  in  Dr.  Stiles's 
draft  by  committee  from  Philadel 
phia,  51;  analysis  of  proceedings  in 
reference  to,  in  1763,  54;  extracts 
from,  illustrating  its  liberal  character, 
59;  referred  to,  63,  72,  215;  first  Char 
ter  opposed  by  Congregationalists, 
191 ;  Dr.  Stiles's  original  draft  found 
among  the  files  and  papers  of  his 
church,  53;  original  document  pre 
sented  to  the  Library  by  Dr.  Sprague, 
9;  first  and  second  Charters  published 
in  Appendix,  465;  clause  exempting 
professors  from  taxation  changed  in 
1863,  by  the  General  Assembly,  479. 

COLLEGE  COMMENCEMENT,  annual 
meeting  of  Warren  Association  ap 
pointed  to  be  Tuesday  after  to  accom 
modate,  79;  "Commencement  Ser- 

42 


mon,"  89;  displaced  by  the  "Presi 
dents  Levee,"  90;  Commencement 
dimicrs  of  John  Brown,  169;  first 
provided  by  the  College  in  1792, 169; 
account  of  first  Commencement  in 
17G9,  87;  1770,  127;  1771,  193;  1774, 
233;  1775,  240;  1776,  242;  1783,  295, 
293;  1786,  394;  1787,  400;  1788,  412; 
1789,425;  1790,435. 

COLLEGE  CORPORATION,  first  meeting 
in  Sept.  1764,  63  ;  character  of  the 
twenty -four  members  present,  64; 
second  meeting,  71  ;  meeting  at  New 
port  respecting  location  of  College, 
108;  final  meeting  at  Warren,  109, 
111;  names  of  the  thirty-five  members 
present,  110;  cautious  delicacy  with 
which  Manning's  relations  to  the 
Warren  church  are  interfered  with, 
113;  special  meeting  to  defeat  project 
for  another  college,  114;  meeting  in 
1777,  and  no  further  meeting  until 
1780,  258;  meeting  in  1780,  287;  1782, 
289;  1783,295,298;  petition  to  the  King 
of  France  for  patronage,  301 ;  recom 
mend  sending  to  England  for  dona 
tions,  296,  338;  petition  to  Congress  for 
damages,  350, 352,  370 ;  subscribe  £700 
lawful  money  for  library  and  appara 
tus,  308 ;  advise  Manning  to  go  to  Con 
gress,  and  appoint  Perez  Fobes  Vice 
President,  379;  notified  by  Manning 
to  look  out  for  a  successor,  449 ;  action 
in  reference  to  Manning's  death,  451; 
vote  of  in  1794  concerning  a  Latin  or 
Grammar  school,  336;  erect  a  build- 
in  1810  for  its  accommodation,  198, 337. 

COLLEGE  EDIFICE,  erected  011  the 
home-lot  of  Chad  Brown,  115,  146, 
150;  plans  of  Nassau  Hall,  Princeton, 
adopted  by  the  building  committee, 
116;  dimensions,  121,  128;  occupied 
by  troops  during  the  war,  243,  289, 
314,  339;  left  in  a  most  ruinous  con 
dition,  314,  329;  Corporation  advance 
one  thousand  dollars  for  repairs,  314; 
third  story  finished,  349;  two  thou 
sand  dollars  obtained  from  Congress 
to  repair  damages,  388;  house  for  the 
President  built  in  1770,  296. 

COLLEGE  OF  NEW  JERSEY,  26,  27,  38, 


494 


INDEX. 


197,  275;   laws   and   customs   of  in 
1758,  28-30. 

COLLEGE  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  26,  93. 

COLLEGES  in  America,  iu  1762,  38 ;  and 
superior  places  of  learning  controlled 
by  the  "  Standing  Order,"  321. 

COLLINS,  Mr.,  276. 

COLONIES,  determine  to  unite  in  de 
fence  of  their  rights,  236. 

COLUMBIA  COLLEGE,  New  York,  38. 

COMER'S  MANUSCRIPT  DIARY,  73. 

COMMUNION,  division  of  Baptist  church 
respecting,  154, 178, 180. 

CONDY,  Jeremiah,  present  at  first  meet 
ing  of  Corporation,  64;  graduate  of 
Harvard,  66;  references  to,  51,  71, 
135. 

CONFEDERATION,  378,  402. 

CONGUEGATIONALISTS  of  New  Eng 
land,  and  the  Baptists,  38,  47-55, 183. 
188, 190,  204,  215,  331,  346;  represented 
at  first  meeting  of  the  Corporation 
64.  See  PEDOBAPTISTS  and  STANDING 
ORDER. 

CONGRESS,  passes  an  "  Act  for  the  RelieJ 
of  the  Corporation  of  Rhode  Island 
College,"  388. 

CONGRESS  OF  THE  CONFEDERATION, 
82,  98,  236,  265,  275,  391,  392. 

CONNECTICUT,  209,  244;  invasion  of  by 
the  British,  277 ;  makes  contributions 
for  relief  of  Rhode  Island,  260;  cler 
gy  vote  in  town  meetings,  and  dired 
in  choice  of  candidates,  285. 

CONNECTICUT  EVANGELICAL 
ZINE,  267. 

CONNECTICUT  FARMS,  34,  272,  281. 

CONNECTICUT  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 
267. 

CONOLLY,  Mr.,  of  Philadelphia,  276. 

CONSTITUTION,  167,  298,  391,  403,  404 
Sec  FEDERAL. 

CONSTITUTIONAL  LIBERTY,  Rhode  Isl 

and  firm  in  cause  of,  208. 
CONSUL  of  France,  present  at   Com 

mencemcnt,  298. 

CONTINENTAL  FAST,  in  1779,  267. 
CONTINENTAL  FERRY,  N.  Y.,  269,  283 
CONTROVERSIALIST,  Manning  a   skil 

ful,  253. 
CONVENTION  at  Philadelphia,  400,  402 


OOK,  Gov.,  67, 110,  288. 

BOOMER,  John,  70. 

:ORLIS,  Capt.,  266,  288. 

CORRESPONDENCE.    See  LETTEBS. 

:OVENANT,  Abrahamic,  256,  320,  321; 
of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Warren,  69. 
OVEY,  Mr.,  267. 

COWPER'S  Poems,  stanza  cited,  458. 
RAM,  Dea.  W.,  and  wife,  baptized, 
122. 

CRANBERRY,  visited  with  a  revival,  336. 

CROCKER,  Rev.  Dr.,  fifty-five  years  a 
Fellow,  portrait  in  Rhode  Island  Hall, 
396. 

URTIS,  Mr.,  son-in-law  to  Robert  Rob 
inson,  444. 

HUSHING,  Thomas,  delegate  to  Con 
gress  from  Massachusetts,  237. 

CUSTOMS  of  the  College  of  New  Jer 
sey  in  1758,  28. 

UTTING,  Rev.  Dr.,  article  on  Brown 
University,  cited,  46. 

DANBURY,  ruins  of,  283. 

DARK  DAY  of  1780,  260. 

DARTMOUTH  COLLEGE,  184,  255,  319, 
406. 

DAUGHTERS  OF  LIBERTY,  64. 

DA  VIES,  Rev.  Dr.,  President  of  the  Col 
lege  of  New  Jersey,  27;  Oliver  Hart 
on  death  of,  32 ;  referred  to  by  Man 
ning,  386. 

DA  VIES,  Benj  ,  of  Wales,  218. 

DAVIS,  John,  educated  at  the  Hopewell 
Academy,  42;  present  at  early  meet 
ings  of  Corporation,  67;  chairman  of 
committee  on  grievances,  80;  honor 
ary  degree  conferred  on,  89;  agent 
for  the  Baptist  churches,  131. 

DAVIS,  Samuel,  274,  278. 

DAWSON,  a  Sabbatarian  Baptist,  249. 

DAY,  Robert,  of  England,  worthy  of 
College  honors,  190. 

DAYTON,  Dr.,  executor  of  Richard 
Stites,  292. 

DEARTH  of  material  for  Manning's  life, 
7. 

DEED  of  College  lot,  115, 116. 

DEERFIELD,  Baptist  church  constitu 
ted  in,  122, 123. 

DEMOSTHENES,  27. 


INDEX. 


495 


DENNIS,  John,  graduate  in  class  of  1770, 

128. 

DENNIS,  Capt.,  of  Brunswick,  272. 
DEXTER,  Gregory,  minister  of  Baptist 

church  in  Providence,  146, 148. 
DEXTER,  John,  154. 
DEXTER,  Jeremiah,  French  troops  en 
camped  on  lands  of,  292. 
DIARRIKEA,  Manning  grievously  afflict 
ed  with,  231.    . 

DIARY  or  Journal,  Manning's,  on  jour 
ney  to  Philadelphia,  266. 
DILIGENCE,  Manning  feels  his  obliga 
tions  to,  in  his  holy  calling,  366. 
DIPLOMAS,  form   of   revised  and    en 
graved,  220. 

DISCIPLINE  of  the  College  under  Man 
ning,  128.  307. 

DISCIPLINE  OF  THE  ROD,  219. 
DISSENTERS,  in  England,  not  allowed 
bells  or  steeples,  230 ;  objections  to  the 
order  of  bishops,  361. 
DISTRESS  upon  the  Baptists,  330,  331. 

Sec  BAPTISTS. 

DISNEY'S  Memoirs  of  Hollis,  cited,  122. 
DITTON'S  FLUXIONS,  217. 
DIVISION   in    Baptist    church,    Provi 
dence,  154. 
DOBSON,  publisher, of  Philadelphia,  427, 

430. 
DODDRIDGE'S  LECTURES,  text-book  in 

College,  305. 

DOGGETT,  Simeon,  "  Commencemenl 
oration  on  death  of  President  Man 
ning,"  455,  457. 

DORRANCE,  John,  graduate  in  class  o: 
1774;  member  of  school  committee 
419. 
DRAKE'S  HISTORY  AND  ANTIQUITIES 

OF  BOSTON,  cited,  134. 
DROWNE,  Solomon,  graduate  in  class 
of  1773,  appointed  on  committee  t< 
make  out  catalogue  of  books,  298 
presents  to  Corporation  device  for  : 
seal,  300;  on  committee  to  draft  lette 
to  Benjamin  Franklin ,  301 ;  goes  ou 
to  Europe  with  letters  of  introduction 
from  Manning,  343,  346,  359;  referen 
ces  to,  365,  382,  335.  408,  431,  441;  brie 
biographical  sketch,  346,  347;  portrai 
in  Rhode  Island  Hall,  396. 


DROWNE,  Thomas  S.,  acknowledgment 

in  Preface,  9. 

^UDDINGSTON,  Lieut.,  171. 
DUDLEY,  Deputy  Governor,  144. 
)UNHAM,  Col.,  of  Morristown,  281. 
DUNN,  Benj..  actor  in  affair  of  the  Gas- 
pee,  172. 
DRUMMER.  Nathaniel,  probable  heir  to 

an  estate  in  England,  382. 
DUNLAP'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  ARTS  OF 

DESIGN,  cited,  459. 
DUNSCOMUE,  Rev.  Mr.,  of  England,  217, 

380. 

DURHAM,  Connecticut,  285. 
DURPHEE,  Capt.,  111. 
DUTCHESS  COUNTY,  N.  Y.,  land  and 

crops,  268. 
DWIGHT,  Widow,  daughter  of  David 

Howell,  401. 
DWIGHT,  Capt.  G.  L.,  acknowledgment 

in  Preface,  9. 

EAST  GREENWICH,  subscription  in,  for 
the  College,  108. 

EAST  INDIES  and  China,  John  Brown 
first  merchant  in  Rhode  Island  to  car 
ry  trade  to,  166. 

EASTON,  Nicholas,  present  at  first  meet 
ing  of  Corporation,  64. 

EASTON,  Jonathan,  physician,  present 
at  early  meetings  of  Corporation,  67. 

EATON,  Joseph,  of  Montgomery,  25. 

EATON,  Isaac,  founder  of  the  Hopewell 
Academy,  25,  41,  62 ;  gives  charge  at 
Manning's  ordination,  35;  executor 
of  Mrs.  Hubs's  will,  56 ;  name  omitted 
in  first  draft  of  charter,  51 ;  sermon 
at  ordination  of  Dr.  Rogers,  92;  hon 
orary  degree  conferred  on,  128;  brief 
biographical  sketch,  25,  26. 

EATON,  Joseph,  member  of  first  gradu 
ating  class,  88. 

ECCLESIASTICAL  OPPRESSIONS,  passed 
away,  192. 

EDDY,  Samuel,  graduate  in  class  of 
1787,  Fellow  and  Secretary  of  Corpo 
ration,  401;  sketch  of,  400. 

EDDY,  Zechariah,  testimony  in  favor  of 
Backus,  131. 

EDGAR,  Major,  272. 

EDICT  OF  NANTES,  34. 


496 


INDEX. 


EDMONDS,  Mr.,  calls  on  Manning,  281. 

EDUCATION,  Manning's  efforts  to  aid 
pious  students  in  securing,  315  ;  his 
efforts  in  behalf  of  popular,  417-419; 
of  youth  necessary  for  preservation 
of  freedom,  434;  address  of  the  War 
ren  Association  concerning,  320. 

EDUCATION  SOCIETY  of  Bristol,  Eng 
land.  See  BRISTOL. 

EDWARDS,  Morgan,"  principal  mover  " 
in  founding  and  endowing  Rhode 
Island  College.  43,  44;  name  omitted 
by  Dr.  Stiles  in  his  first  draft  of  the 
Charter,  51;  present  at  the  early 
meetings  of  the  Corporation,  67;  se 
cures  funds  for  the  College  in  Eng 
land  and  Ireland, 88,  90, 195;  original 
subscription  book  in  the  Library,  90, 
461;  honorary  degree  conferred  on, 
89;  messenger  to  Warren  Association 
from  Philadelphia,  77,  80;  writes  to 
Manning  in  regard  to  his  leaving 
Warren,  118;  preaches  first  "Com 
mencement  sermon,"  89;  appointed 
by  Philadelphia  Association  to  re 
ceive  funds  for  the  College  in  Penn 
sylvania,  57;  writes  to  Manning  on 
the  opposition  of  the  Presbyterians  or 
Congrcgationalists,  190;  books  sent 
to,  from  Ryland,  202;  respectful  no 
tice  taken  of  by  the  Philadelphia  As 
sociation,  206;  present  at  conference 
of  Baptists  with  delegates  to  Congress, 
237;  visits  with  Manning  at  Philadel 
phia  and  Pennepek,  279,  280;  llippon 
inquires  of  Manning  concerning,  824 ; 
inclined  to  vindicate  Winchester,  327 ; 
"  Materials  towards  a  History  of  the 
Baptists,"  cited,  42,  46,  52,  107,  108, 
117,  144,155;  death  and  funeral  ser 
mon,  44,  95;  life  and  character,  43- 
45.  See  LETTERS. 

EDAVAIIDS,  "  Billy,"  son  of  Morgan,  128. 
EDWARDS,  Joshua,  son  of  Morgan,  90. 
EDWARDS,  James,  receives  honorary 

degree  at  first  Commencement,  89. 
EDWARDS,    Jonathan,    President     of 

Union  College,  402. 
ELECT  LADY,  312,  344. 
ELECTRICITY,  Joseph  Brown's  profi 
ciency  in,  162. 


ELEMENTS  of  learning,  Manning  well 
instructed  in,  25. 

ELLERY,  William,  of  Newport,  47,  54, 
275, 276.  * 

ELLIOT,  of  Fail-field,  284. 

ELiZABETii'SOWN,  N.  J.,  place  of  Man 
ning's  birth,  24,  25,  271;  damaged  by 
the  British,  271. 

ELOQUENCE  of  Manning,  405,  457,  459; 
of  Maxcy,  401. 

ELTON,  Romeo,  Literary  Remains  of 
Maxcy,  cited,  7,  403. 

EMBLEN,  John,  pastor  of  First  Baptist 
Church,  Boston,  135. 

EMERSON'S  FLUXIONS,  217. 

EMIGRATION  to  Kentucky,  411. 

EMPLOYMENT,  man  made  for,  426. 

ENCYCLOPAEDIA  BRITANNICA,  work 
of  the  greatest  utility,  356. 

ENDOWMENTS  for  the  College,  efforts 
to  secure,  309. 

ENGLAND,  resistance  to  unjust  claims 
of,  233 ;  appoints  to  office  members 
of  the  Episcopal  Church,  39. 

ENMITY  to  the  College,  199,  215,  399_ 
See  COLLEGE. 

EPISCOPALIANS  and  Episcopal  Church, 
38,  39,  64,  S3,  245,  249,  255,  361. 

EPITAPH  on  Chad  Brown,  144;  Nicho 
las  Brown,  161;  Joseph  Brown,  163; 
John  Brown,  168. 

EUTAW,  S.  C.,  Pelot  settled  at,  44. 

EVANS,  Abel,  honorary  degree  con 
ferred  on.  128. 

EVANS,  Benjamin,  popular  minister  in 
Cardiganshire,  443. 

EVANS,  Caleb,  President  of  Bristol 
Academy,  England,  337;  honorary 
degree  conferred  on,  89,  429;  efforts 
to  procure  books  for  the  College  from 
Bristol  Academy,  341;  preaches  in 
opposition  to  Dr.  Priestley,  415;  brief 
sketch  of,  337.  Sec  LETTERS. 

EVANS,  Hugh,  honorary  degree  con 
ferred  on,  128;  tutor  of  Dr.  Rippon, 
325;  bcoks  and  apparatus  solicited 
for  the  College,  338. 

EVANS,  Life  and  Writings  of  William 
Richards,  cited,  93,  310,  445. 

EWING,  Dr.,  351. 

EYRES,  Elder  Nicholas,  50. 


INDEX. 


497 


EYRES,  Thomas,  graduate  of  Yale.  50; 
connection  with  the  College  Charter, 
50,  55;  first  Secretary  of  the  Corpora 
tion,  64,  66;  present  at  meeting  to  de 
termine  location  of  the  College,  110; 
at  meeting  of  Corporation  in  1780,288. 

FAIRFIELD,  Ct.,  burnt  by  the  British, 

277 ;  ruins  of,  284. 

FASTING  AND  PRAYER,  Baptist  church 
es  appoint  day  of  in  consequence  of 
oppressions  of  Standing  Order,  186. 
FARMINGTON,  Ct.,  267. 
FARMS,  CONNECTICUT,  home  of  Man 
ning's  father-in-law,  34,  272,  280. 
FALKNER,Capt., Manning  and  Edwards 

visit,  279. 

FAME,  influence  of  on  human  mind,819. 
FATHERS  OF  THE  CHURCH  bequeathed 

to  the  College  by  Dr.  Gill,  370. 
FEATHERS,  ACADEMICAL,  188, 214, 217. 
FEDERAL  ADELPHI,  305. 
FEDERAL  CONSTITUTION,  Mass.  Con 
vention  upon,  403;  adopted  in  Rhode 
Island  by  two  votes,  433 ;  John  Brown 
champion  of,  167. 
FEDERAL    GOVERNMENT,    impending 

dissolution  of,  390,  392. 
FEDERALISTS,  403. 
FENNER,  Edward,  154. 
FENNER,  James,  valedictorian  of  class 

of  1789,  425. 
FENNER,  Samuel,  College  lot  purchased 

of,  115. 
FENNING'S  ARITHMETIC,  text-book  in 

College,  305. 
FERGUSON,  James,  Ryland's  intimate 
friend.,  217 ;  Easy  Introduction  to  Sir 
Isaac  Newton's  Philosophy,  203;  As 
tronomy,  text-book  in  College,  305. 
FINANCIAL    embarrassments    of    the 

country  in  1779,  275. 
FINLEY,  Samuel,  President  of  the  CoL 
lege  of  New  Jersey,  27;  reference  to 
275. 

FISH,  Samuel  and  Daniel,  154. 
FISHKILL,  N.  Y.,  land  good  and  roads 

fine,  269. 

FIVE-PRINCIPLE  BAPTISTS,  149. 
FLATTERY,    "  drivelling  flattery   anc 
nauseous  palaver,"  201. 

42* 


FLINT,  Abel,  tutor  in  College,  397,  428, 

432,  437;  ordination  of,  438. 
FOBES,  Perez,  Vice  President  of  the 
College,  379;  Professor  and  Fellow, 
380;  sermon  on  death  of  Manning,  452. 
FOLSOM,  Nancy,  baptized,  123. 
"OUGHT,  Mr.,  281. 
TOUR  BROTHERS, biographical  sketches, 

153-176. 
FOURTH  OF  JULY  in  Philadelphia,  1779, 

276. 

FORSYTE'S  Memoir  of  Dr.  Proudfit,  ci 
ted,  402. 
FORTS,    Arnold,    Putnam,    and    Pitt, 

282, 367. 

FOSKETT,  Rev.  Dr.,  instructor  of  Mor 
gan  Edwards,  43. 

FOSTER,  Benj.,  appointed  chairman  of 
committee  to  prepare  Baptist  cate 
chism  and  spelling-book,  291 ;  appoint 
ed  to  solicit  benefactions  for  the  Col 
lege  in  New  England,  299. 
FOSTER,  Dwight,  graduate  in  class  of 

1774,  234. 
FOSTER,  Henry,  of  England,  worthy  of 

College  honors,  189. 
FOSTER,  John,  taught  private  school  in 

Providence.  417. 

FOSTER,  Theodore,  graduate  in  class  of 
1770, 127 ;  member  of  school  commit 
tee;  419;  on  town  committee  to  draft 
petition  to  Congress,  425. 
FOSTER,  Rev.  Mr.,  412,  448. 
FOSTER,  Mr.,  steward  of  College,  292. 
FOTHERGILL,  Dr  ,  of  London,  Water- 
house  a  pupil  of,  299. 
FOUNDER    OF   BROWN    UNIVERSITY, 

neglect  to  record  his  honors,  5. 
Fox,  Joseph,  Quaker,  of  Philadelphia, 

237. 
Fox's  NEW  ENGLAND  FIRE  BRAND 

QUENCHED,  cited,  147. 
FRANCE,  a  monarchial  despotism,  359. 
FRANCIS,  Mr.,    expression  in  prayer, 

111. 

FRANCIS,  John,  married  Abby,  daugh 
ter  of  John  Brown,  170. 
FRANCIS,  John  Brown,  son  of  John, 

170, 172. 

FRANK-PLEDGE,  the  policy  of  Israel 
under  the  theocracy,  360. 


498 


INDEX. 


FRANKLIN,  Benjamin,  subscriber  to  the 
early  funds  of  the  College,  91 ;  com 
mittee  appointed  to  draft  letter  to,301. 

FREEDOM  OF  CONSCIENCE,  motto  on 
bell  of  First  Baptist  Church,  230. 

FREEHOLDERS,  mediocrity  of  landed 
possessions  in  the  hands  of  beneficial 
to  a  community  ,359 ;  the  real  strength 
of  a  nation,  362. 

FREEMASON.  See  MASONIC  FRATER 
NITY. 

FREE  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS,  Manning 
draws  up  report  in  favor  of,  418 ;  es 
tablished  in  Providence  in  1800,  419. 

FRENCH  Ambassador  at  West  Point,282. 

FRENCH  LANGUAGE  AND  HISTORY, 
Professorship  of  desired  by  the  Cor 
poration,  302. 

FRENCH  ORATION  at  Commencement, 
1788,  412. 

FRENCH  REVOLUTION,  429. 

FRESHMAN  CLASS,  first,  consisted  of 
but  three  students,  86. 

FREEMAN,  Philip,  of  Boston,  80,  210; 
represents  Sec.  Baptist  Church  at  first 
meeting  of  Warren  Association,  75. 

FRIENDS,  Moses  Brown  a  prominent 
member  of,  173;  Gov.  Hopkins,  pre 
ferred  principles  of,  869;  discipline 
of  inconsistent  with  Masonry,  175.  • 

FRIENDS'  BOARDING  SCHOOL,  174. 

FRIENDSHIP,  blunt,  better  than  "  driv 
elling  flattery,"  201. 

FRINK,  Esquire,  266. 

FULTON,  Benj.,  of  England,  worthy  of 
College  honors,  190. 

FULTON,  James,  graduate  in  class  of 
1775,  240. 

FUNDS  of  the  College,  preserved  amidst 
the  wreck  of  public  credit,  316;  pro 
duce  an  income  of  £60  sterling,  339  ; 
for  education  of  pious  Baptist  youth, 
381;  smallness  of,  444. 

FUNERAL  of  Manning,  451,  454;  order 
of  procession,  452. 

FURMAN,  Rev.  Dr.,  on  John  Gano,  35. 

GALLOWAY,  Joseph,  delegate  to  Con 
gress,  237. 

GAMMELL.  Rev.  William,  pupil  of  Wil 
liam  Williams,  106. 


]  GAMMELL,Prof.  William,  Life  of  Roger 
Williams,  cited,  147;  Life  of  Gov. 
Ward,  cited,  66,  237;  Life  and  Educa 
tional  Labors  of  Nicholas  Brown,  ci 
ted,  144,  395. 

GANO,  John,  brother-in-law  of  Man 
ning,  34;  preaches  Manning's  ordina 
tion  sermon,  34;  present  at  the  early 
meetings  of  the  Corporation,  67; 
name  omitted  by  Dr.  Stiles  in  first 
draft  of  the  Charter,  51;  preaches  the 
sermon  at  the  organization  of  the 
Baptist  church  in  Warren,  70;  first 
Moderator  of  the  Warren  Association, 
75;  Moderator  in  1774,  236;  baptizes 
Hezekiah  Smith,  135;  appointed  by 
Philadelphia  Association  to  receive 
donations  for  the  College,  and  to  ad 
dress  kindred  associations  on  the  sub 
ject,  57,  58;  travels  in  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina,  182;  present  at  the 
conference  of  Baptist  with  delegates 
to  Congress,  237 ;  sufierer  by  the  war, 
244;  family  at  Warwick  during  M:e 
war,  269,  270,  280,  281 ;  referred  to  by 
Rippon,  323;  blessed  with  a  revival 
at  New  York,  328,  355,  364;  leaves 
New  York  for  Kentucky,  406;  house 
caught  on  fire,  448;  biographical 
sketch,  34-36. 

GANO,  Sarah,  wife  of  John,  35,  364, 
365. 

GANO,  Daniel,  eldest  son  of  John,  grad 
ate  in  class  of  1776,  242. 

GANO,  Stephen,  third  son  of  John,  pas 
tor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  Provi- 
deuce,35,364;  married  to  Mary  Brown, 
164;  referred  to  by  Manning,  432;  an 
honored  and  useful  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  366;  administra 
tor  of  Mrs.  Manning's  estate,  7;  bio 
graphical  sketch,  334-366. 

GARDNER,  Col.,  of  Newport,  46. 

GARDNER,  William,  of  Philadelphia,  94. 

GARTH,  Brigadier-General,  277. 

GARRETS  and  storehouses,  no  places 
for  valuable  papers,  8. 

GASPARS,  an  artist  contemporary  with 
Charles  II. ,396. 

GASPEE,  British  schooner,  account  of 
destruction  of,  170. 


INDEX. 


499 


GASPEE  POINT,  171. 

GATES,  Gen.,  a  good  commander,  141. 

GERMANY,  a  monarchial  despotism, 
359. 

GERNEAUX,  Francis,  ancestor  of  John 
Gano,  34. 

GEORGE  III.,  intimate  with  Dr.  Sten- 
nett,  120. 

GEORGIA,  subscriptions  for  the  College 
in,  121,  126. 

GERVINUS'S  Introduction  to  History 
of  Nineteenth  Century,  cited,  147. 

GIBBON'S,  Dr.,  eulogy  on  Dr.  Llewelyn, 
194;  an  intimate  acquaintance  of  Pres 
ident  Davics,  386. 

GIBBS'S,  Designs  of  Buildings  and  Or 
naments,  cited,  229. 

GIFFORD,  Andrew,  sub-librarian  of  the 
British  Museum,  370;  subscriber  to 
early  funds  of  the  College,  91 ;  death 
referred  to,  362. 

GILBERT,  Capt.,  181. 

GILL,  Dr.  John,  pastor  of  Baptist 
church  in  London  fifty-one  years, 
372;  list  of  his  published  writings, 
372;  recommends  Morgan  Edwards 
to  this  country,  43;  subscriber  to  the 
early  funds  of  the  College,  91;  re 
ferred  to  in  correspondence,  202,  203, 
211,  231 ;  bequeaths  his  works  and  fif 
ty-two  volumes  of  the  Fathers  to 
College  Library,  199,  200;  works  re 
ferred  to,  364,  374,  416. 

GILL,  John,  son  of  Dr.,  and  executor 
of  estate,  200;  correspondence  with 
Manning,  relative  to  publications  of 
his  father,  371-376. 

GODDARD,  William  Giles,  Memoir  of 
Manning,  with  sketches  of  his  pupils, 
cited,  6,  86, 113,  117, 118, 119,  242,  300, 
329,  342,  401,  410,  413,  451,  463. 

GOFOKTH,  Major,  2.74,  278,  279. 

GOOD  CHARACTER,  importance  of,  426. 

GOODRICH    Kev.  Dr.,  of  Durham,  438. 

GORDON,  William,  author  of  History  of 
the  American  War,  387;  introduced 
to  Manning  by  Dr.  Stennett,  123, 
181;  busy  upon  his  History,  393; 
abused  in  Boston  newspapers,  388; 
prays  daily  that  people  of  United 
States  may  be  holy,  free,  and  happy, 


423 ;  presents  Caryl's  Exposition  upon 
Job,  and  set  of  his  History  to  College 
Library,  387,  424;  brief  sketch  of,  387. 
See  LETTERS. 

GORTON'S  Simplicity's  Defence,  cited, 
146. 

GOSPEL,  an  estimable  jewel,  409. 

GOULD,  Thomas,  pastor  of  First  Bap 
tist  Church,  Boston,  135. 

GOULD  AND  LINCOLN,  acknowledg 
ment  to,  9. 

GOVERNMENT,  great  desideratum  of, 
362. 

GRAFTON,  Joseph,  ordained  and  set 
tled  at  Newtown,  409;  Trustee  of 
Baptist  Education  Fund,  316. 

GRAMMAR,  Warren  Association  ap 
point  committee  to  prepare  an  Eng 
lish,  291. 

GRAMMAR  SCHOOL.  See  LATIN  SCHOOL. 

GRASSHOPPERS,  2G8,  270. 

GRAVES,  John,  Rector  of  St.  John's 
Church,  Providence,  disloyal,  255. 

GREAT  MEADOWS,  Ct.,  285. 

GREAT  BRITAIN,  conduct  to  East  In 
dians,  Africans,  and  Americans  re 
ferred  to,  424. 

GREGSON,  Moses,  of  England,  worthy 
of  College  honors,  190. 

GREEK  oration  at  Commencement  in 
1788,  412. 

GREEN,  John  Morley,  admitted  to  de 
gree  of  A.  B.,  in  1782,  289. 

GREEN,  Nathaniel,  of  Charlton,  death 
of,  458. 

GREEN,  Thomas,  of  Cambridge,  people 
imprisoned  for  minister's  rates,  349; 
Trustee  of  Baptist  Education  Fund, 
316. 

GREENE,  Elisha,  154. 

GREENE,  Caleb,  subscriber  for  set  of 
Gordon's  History,  424. 

GREENE,  Col.  Christopher,  97;  portrait 
in  Rhode  Island  Hall,  397. 

GREENE,  Gen.  Nathaniel,  second  only 
to  Washington,  97;  dinner  in  honor 
of  at  John  Brown's,  169;  Manning 
dines  with  at  West  Point,  282. 

GREENE,  Thomas,  present  at  meeting 
of  Corporation  to  determine  location 
of  College,  110. 


500 


INDEX. 


GREENFIELD,  Ct.,  husbandry  good,  281. 

GRIEVANCES,  plan  to  collect,  80;  appli 
cation  to  England  for  redress  from, 
184. 

GRIFFITH,  Abe],  represents  Philadel 
phia  Baptist  Association,  at  Warren, 
in  1767,  75. 

GRISWOLD,  Bishop,  takes  the  Knight 
Templar's  degree  in  Providence  En 
campment,  366. 

GROSVENOR,  Cyrus  P.,  pastor  of  First 
Baptist  Church,  Boston,  135. 

GUERNSEY,  Island  of,  34. 

GUILD,  .Joseph,  represents  Attleboro 
Church  at  first  meeting  of  Warren 
Association,  75. 

GUILD  and  the  Manning  papers,  7. 

GUTHRIE,  Mr.,  390. 

GUTHRIE'S  GEOGRAPHY,  text-book  in 
College,  305. 

HAGUE,  William,  pastor  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church,  Boston,  135;  Histori 
cal  Discourse,  cited,  144,  180. 

HAILE,  Amos,  of  Warren,  70. 

HALL,  Rev.  Robert,  of  Amsby,  Leisces- 
tershire,  death  referred  to,  439. 

HALL,  Rev.  Dr.  Robert,  on  death  of 
Ryland,  23;  on  death  of  Reynolds, 
450. 

HALL,  Silas,  acknowledgment  in  Pref 
ace,  9 ;  copies  minutes  of  Warren  As 
sociation  from  Backus  papers,  82. 

HALSEY,  J.,  tutor  in  College  of  New 
Jersey,  27. 

HALSEY,  Thos.  Loyd,  on  committee  of 
Corporation  to  erect  brick  house  for 
Grammar  School,  67. 

HAMMOND,  Jona.,  on  committee  to  visit 
Boston,  and  procure  plans  for  meet 
ing-house,  227. 

HAMMOND,  Noah,  delegate  from  Phila 
delphia  Association,  at  first  meeting 
of  Warren,  75. 

HAMMOND'S  ALGEBRA,  text-book  in 
College,  305. 

HANCOCK,  Governor,  member  of  Dr. 
Stillman's  congregation,  134;  invites 
Manning  to  close  the  Massachusetts 
Convention  with  prayer,  404. 

HANCOCK,  Mrs.  Dolly,  106. 


HANSBROOK,  Col.,  269. 

HARDING,  celebrated  American  artist, 
395. 

HARRIS,  Andrew,  father-in-law  of  El 
der  James  Brown,  152. 

HARRIS,  Mary,  daughter  of  Andrew, 
and  wife  of  Elder  James  Brown,  152. 

HARRIS,  Thos.  Jr.,  152. 

HARRIS,  William,  one  of  the  five  who 
came  to  Providence  with  Roger  Wil 
liams,  146,  152. 

HARRIS,  W.  J.,  portrait  of  Moses 
Brown,  175. 

HART,  Oliver,  pastor  of  the  Baptist 
church,  Charleston,  main  founder  of 
Charleston  Baptist  Association,  31; 
writes  to  Manning  on  death  of  Pres 
ident  Davies  32;  invites  Manning  to 
become  his  assistant,  37;  baptizes 
Stillman,  133;  appointed  to  address 
Baptist  associations  throughout 
America,  in  behalf  of  Rhode  Island 
College,  58;  references  to,  45,  89,  126, 
333,  336.  See  LETTERS. 

HART,  John,  sou  of  Oliver,  Manning 
disciplines  with  the  rod,  219. 

HART,  John,  Esq.,  executor  of  Mrs. 
Hubs's  will,  56  ;  Manning  visits,  272, 
273;  278.  • 

HART,  Joseph,  of  the  Executive  Coun 
cil,  275. 

HARTFORD  and  vicinity,  roads  and 
crops,  267. 

HARVARD  COLLEGE,  founded  in  1638, 
38;  Hollis  donations  to,  40,  319;  funds 
increased  by  lotteries,  196;  references 
to,  62,  232,  299. 

HATHHORN,  Col.,  281. 

HAVERHILL,  Mass.,  place  of  Hezekiah 
Smith's  settlement  and  labors,  136, 
133. 

HAZARD,  Ebenezer,  classmate  of  Man 
ning,  33. 

HAZARD,  Geo.,  of  Newport,  present  at 
early  meetings  of  Corporation,  67, 110. 

HAZARD,  Joseph,  associate  justice,  99. 

HEADACHE,  Woodman  suffers  from, 
206;  Manning,  207. 

HEADE'S  portrait  of  Moses  Brown,  175. 

HEARSE,  used  for  first  time  in  Provi 
dence  at  Manning's  funeral,  451. 


INDEX. 


501 


HEBREW  oration  at  Commencement  in 
1788,  412. 

HEBREWS,  in  College,  60. 

HELME,  James,  present  at  final  meeting 
to  determine  location  of  the  College, 
110. 

HENRY,  Patrick,  eloquence  moulded 
by  sermons  of  Samuel  Davies,  27. 

HERENDEN,  married  to  Daniel  Brown, 
150. 

HERRESHOFF,  Charles  F.,  son-in-law  of 
John  Brown,  170. 

HESSIANS  in  Rhode  Island,  98. 

HEXTALL,  William,  worthy  of  College 
honors,  190. 

HILDRETH'S  United  States,  cited,  271, 
275. 

HISTORY,  Dr.  Priestley's  lectures  on, 
414. 

HISTORY  of  the  College.  See  COL 
LEGE. 

HINDS,  Ebenezer,  assists  in  the  organi 
zation  of  the  Baptist  church,  at  War 
ren,  68;  represents  Second  Middle- 
borough  Church  at  first  meeting  of 
Warren  Association,  75. 

HITCHCOCK,  Enos,  preaches  sermon  at 
ordination  of  Mr.  Flint,  438;  conducts 
services  at  Manning's  funeral,  451; 
member  of  school  committee,  419. 

Hix,  Samuel,  of  Warren,  70. 

HOGARTH'S  Analysis  of  Beauty,  cited, 
460. 

HOGLAND,  Col.,  of  Bordeutown,  277. 

HOLIDAY,  earliest  State,  in  Rhode  Isl 
and,  87. 

HOLLIMAN,  Ezekiel,  baptized  by  Roger 
Williams,  147. 

HOLLIS,  Thomas,  the  distinguished  ben 
efactor  of  Harvard  University,  40; 
subscribes  to  the  early  funds  of  the 
College,  91;  corresponds  with  Eph- 
raim  Wheaton  of  Swanzey  and  the 
Philadelphia  Baptist  Association  with 
reference  to  his  scholarships  at  Har 
vard,  41 ;  account  of  the  Hollis  fam 
ily,^!;  continued  their  benefactions 
to  Harvard  for  a  century,  121. 

HOLLIS,  Timothy,  subscriber  to  the 
early  funds  of  the  College,  91. 

HOLMES,  Widow  Molly,  271,  272. 


HOLMES,  Obadiah,  first  martyr  to  Bap 
tist  principles  in  New  England,  151; 
daughter  married  to  John  Brown,151. 

HOLMES'S  Life  of  President  Stiles,  ci 
ted,  50,  260. 

HOLROYD,  William,  appointed  by  Gen 
eral  Assembly  manager  of  lottery  for 
church,  228. 

HOLROYD,  John,  married  daughter  of 
Stephen  Gano,  368. 

HONORS  of  the  College  and  honorary 
degrees,  198,  202,  209.  See  ACADEMI 
CAL  and  FEATHERS. 

HONEYMAN,  James, present  at  first  meet- 
iug  of  Corporation,  64;  public  char 
acter  and  social  position,  65. 

HOPE,  'ship  belonging  to  Providence, 
343,  361,  363. 

HOPE  COLLEGE,  erected  in  1822  at  ex 
pense  of  Nicholas  Brown,  395;  named 
after  his  sister,  Mrs.  Hope  Ives,  52, 
157,  395. 

HOPEWELL,  N.  J.,  birthplace  of  John 
Gano,  35;  revival  of  religion  in,  245. 

HOPEWELL  ACADEMY,  founded  by 
Isaac  Eaton  in  1756,  41 ;  interest  man 
ifested  in  by  Philadelphia  and 
Charleston  Associations,  41;  gradu 
ates,  42. 

HOPKINS,  Esek,  brother  of  Stephen, 
appointed  on  Committee  with  Joseph 
Brown,  163;  nominates  Manning  as  a 
delegate  to  Congress,  378 ;  first  com 
modore  in  the  American  navy,portrait 
in  Rhode  Island  Hall,  396;  daughter 
Susan  married  to  President  Maxcy. 

HOPKINS,  Gov.  Stephen,  first  Chancel 
lor  of  the  College,  64;  present  at 
meetings  of  the  Corporation,  63, 110, 
288,  298,  301;  delegate  to  Congress, 
237;  degree  of  LL.D.  conferred  on  by 
the  College,  332;  Manning's  particu 
lar  friend,  and  "  one  of  the  greatest 
men  our  country  has  reared,"  336; 
character,  habits,  and  personal  influ 
ence,  65,  338. 

HOPKINS,  John  B.,  actor  in  affair  of 
the  Gaspee,  172. 

HOPKINS,  Samuel,  lottery  in  aid  of  his 
church  at  Newport,  197;  "penetrat 
ing  sagacity  of,"  402. 


502 


INDEX. 


HOVEY'S  Life  and  Times  of  Backus,  ci 
ted,  81, 130, 235,  238,  239. 

HOWARD,  John,  the  philanthropist, 
member  of  Dr.  Stennett's  congrega 
tion,  120. 

HOWARD,  Miss  A.,  of  Scarboro,  Eng 
land,  Manning  writes  letter  of  sym 
pathy  to,  250. 

HOWELL,  David,  educated  at  Hopewell 
Academy,  42;  graduate  of  the  Col 
lege  of  New  Jersey,  84 ;  first  tutor  in 
the  College  85;  receives  honorary  de 
gree,  89;  associate  justice  of  the  Su 
preme  Court,  99;  delegate  to  Con 
gress,  329,  384;  Secretary  of  the  Cor 
poration,  435;  resigns  his  professor 
ship  in  the  College,  262;  papers  and 
correspondence  8,  9;  references  to, 
160,  227,  241,  288,  291,  298,  325,  370, 
419,  453,  454,  459;  sketch  of  his  char 
acter  and  life,  85,  86.  See  LETTERS. 

HOWELL,  Jeremiah  Brown,  son  of  Da 
vid,  graduate  in  class  of  1789,  425; 
references  to,  298,  347. 

HOWELL,  Sarah,  daughter  of  David, 
married  to  Dwight  and  afterwards  to 
Eddy,  401. 

HOWLAND,  John,  sketch  of  Manning's 
character  and  life,  6;  cited,  118,  119, 
259,404;  account  of  Baptist  church, 
226 ;  letter  to  Prof.  Knowles  respect 
ing  Chad  Brown,  150;  draws  up  peti 
tion  to  General  Assembly  for  free 
schools,  419. 

HUBBEL,  Lieut.,  281,  282. 

HUBBEL,  Esquire,  of  Stratford,  284. 

HUDER,  Robert,  280. 

HUDSON'S  Life  and  Character  of  Je 
mima  Wilkinson,  cited,  312. 

HUGUENOTS,  ancestors  of  the  Gano 
family,  34. 

HUNT,  Asa,  travels  seven  hundred 
miles  in  Virginia,  405. 

HUNTER,  William,  on  character  of 
Manning,  24;  Manning's  corpulency, 
460. 

HUNTER,  Mr.,  of  London,  189. 

HUNTING,  Mr.,  285. 

HUTCHINSON,  Aaron,  prepares  Dr.Eog- 
ers  for  college,  92. 

HUTCHINSON,  Mrs.,  144. 


IIUTCIIINSON'S  MORAL  PHILOSOPHY» 
text-book  in  College,  305. 

ILLITERATE  Baptist  ministers  in  Ken 
tucky,  367. 

IMPOSITION  OF  HANDS  after  baptism, 
70,  92,  153,  178. 

IMPOVERISHED  state  of  the  country, 
326. 

INDEPENDENCE,  American,  2G5, 324. 

INDEPENDENTS  and  Welsh  Baptists, 
442. 

INDIA  POINT,  Providence,  170. 

INDIAN  SLAVES,  enlisted  as  soldiers, 
264. 

INDIANS,  false  reports  in  England  con 
cerning,  444. 

INDUSTRY,  importance  of  forming 
habits  of,  426. 

INFANT-BAPTISM,  253,  428.  See  BAP 
TISM. 

INGALLS,  Rev.  Mr.,  of  Grafton,  332. 

INHERITANCES  ol  landed  posessions 
should  be  subject  to  limitations,  360. 

INITIAL  DEED  of  Roger  Williams,  145. 

INSTABILITY  natural  to  young  minds, 
416. 

INTOLERANCE  AND  PERSECUTioN,Prof. 
Knowles  on,  192. 

INTOXICATING  DRINKS,  Morgan  Ed 
wards  addicted  to  use  of,  44. 

ISRAEL,  polity  of  commonwealth  of, 
360. 

IVES,  Thomas  Poynton,  brother-in-law 
of  Hon.  Nicholas  Brown,  157;  on 
committee  of  Corporation  in  1810  to 
erect  brick  building  for  accommo 
dation  of  the  Grammar  School,  67; 
portrait  in  Rhode  Island  Hall,  396. 

IVES,  Mrs.  Hope,  granddaughter  of 
Daniel  Jenckes,  and  only  surviving 
sister  of  Hon.  Nicholas  Brown,  Hope 
College  named  in  honor  of,  52,  157, 
395. 

JACKSON,  Henry,  married  daughter  of 
Stephen  Gano,  366. 

JAMES,  Samuel,  honorary  degree  con 
ferred  on,  128. 

JEFFERSON,  Thomas,  letter  to  dele 
gates  of  R.  I.  respecting  petition  from 


INDEX. 


503 


the  Corporation  of  the  College  to 
King  of  France,  303;  visits  Provi 
dence  with  Washington,  433. 

JENCKES,  Ebenezer,  pastor  of  the  Bap 
tist  church,  Providence,  153,  154. 

JENCKES,  Jonathan,  154. 

JENCKES,  Gov.  Joseph,  brother-in-law 
of  Elder  James  Brown,  152;  letter  on 
"laying  on  of  hands,"  cited,  153. 

JENCKES,  Daniel,  opposes  the  granting 
of  the  first  Charter  drafted  by  Dr. 
Stiles,  48 ;  history  of  the  Charter,  52- 
54;  marries  a  descendant  of  Eichard 
Scott,  147 ;  present  at  first  meeting  of 
the  Corporation,  64;  at  meeting, 
which  determined  the  location  of  the 
College,  110 ;  moderator  of  the  church 
meeting  at  which  Manning  was  called 
to  the  pastorate  at  Providence,  179; 
brief  sketch  of  his  character,  51,  52. 

JENCKES,  Rhoda,  fifth  daughter  of 
Daniel,  married  to  Nicholas  Brown, 
62,  157. 

JENCKES,  Joseph,  admitted  to  the  de 
gree  of  A.  B.  in  1782,  289. 

JENCKES,  John,  chairman  of  advisory 
committee  of  Baptist  society,  227; 
appointed  by  General  Assembly  one 
of  the  managers  of  lottery  to  aid  in 
building  a  meeting-house,  228;  pres 
ent  at  meeting  of  Corporation  in 
1780,  288 ;  married  to  Widow  Bowers, 
393;  subscriber  for  set  of  Gordon's 
History  of  the  War,  424 ;  sickness  and 
death,  437,  448. 

JENNINGS,  James,  of  England,  worthy 
of  College  honors,  190. 

JENKINS,  Mrs.  Anna  Almy,  grand 
daughter  ofMos.es  Brown,  175;  burn 
ing  of  her  mansion,  176. 

JENKINS,  Moses  Brown,  176. 

JENKS,  Rev.  Dr.,  letter  on  Stillman, 
cited,  134. 

JEWS,  children  of,  admitted  into  the 
College,  61. 

JONES,  Samuel,  educated  at  Hopewell 
Academy,  42;  appointed  by  Phila 
delphia  Association,  with  Morgan 
Edwards,  committee  to  establish  Bap 
tist  college,  43;  name  omitted  by 
Dr.  Stiles  in  first  draft  of  Charter,  51 ; 


on  committee  to  remodel  Stiles's 
draft  of  Charter,  50,  54;  writes  letter 
to  Warren  Association  at  its  first  meet 
ing  in  1767,  75;  delegate  to  in  1769, 
80;  receives  honorary  degree  from 
College,  89;  present  at  conference  of 
Baptists  with  delegates  to  Congress, 
237;  Manning  visits  at  Penncpek,  274, 
277,  278,  279,  280 ;  references  to,  23,431, 
443;  name  suggested  as  Manning's 
successor  in  the  presidency,  453,  454 ; 
biographical  sketch,  274.  See  LET 
TERS. 

JONES,  Robert  Strettle,  accompanies 
Samuel  Jones  on  his  mission  to  New 
port  to  remodel  the  Charter,  54;  ref 
erences  to,  51,  89,  275. 

JONES,  David,  educated  at  the  Hope- 
well  Academy,  42;  first  Baptist  mis 
sionary  to  the  Indians,  205;  chap 
lain  in  the  army,  271,  272. 

JONES,  Alexander,  admitted  to  the  de 
gree  of  A.  B.  in  1782,  289. 

JONES,  William,  editor  of  Dr.  Sten- 
nett's  works,  120. 

JONES,  John,  286. 

JONES,  Mr.,  of  Killingly,  266. 

JONES,  Sammy,  336. 

JONES,  Horatio  Gatez,  acknowledg 
ments  to  in  Preface,  9. 

JOHNSON,  Dr.,  of  Connecticut,  associ 
ate  with  Manning  in  Congress,  379. 

JOHNSON,  Dr.  Samuel,  187,  201. 

JOHNSON,  J.  B.,  objections  to  Maxcy 
as  candidate  for  presidency  of  Union 
College,  402. 

JOURNAL,  Manning's,  266-286. 

JUDSON,  Dr.,  missionary  to  Burmah, 
portrait  in  Rhode  Island  Hall,  396. 

KAIMES'S  Elements  of  Crititism,  text 
book  in  College,  305. 

KANE,  Henry,  Wallin's  executor,  307, 
373. 

KEACH,  on  Singing  in  Public  Worship, 
179. 

KEITH,  George,  son-in-law  of  Dr.  Gill, 
and  his  executor,  72,  200,  214,  371. 

KEITH,  Robert,  educated  at  the  Hope- 
well  Academy,  42. 

KELLY,  Rev.  Mr.,  of  Pomfret,  261. 


504 


INDEX. 


COUNTY,  College  to  be  located 
in,  108, 110. 

KENTISH  GUARDS,  nursery  of  distin 
guished  oflicersof  the  Revolution,  97. 

KENNEDY'S  CHRONOLOGY,  text-book 
iu  College,  305. 

KENTUCKY,  35,  354,  356,  367,  411. 

KER,  Rev.  J.,  tutor  in  College  of  New 
Jersey,  27. 

KILUNQLY  to  Chepachet,  roads  bad, 
266. 

KIMBALL,  Hephzibah,  of  Boxford, 
Mass., married  toHezekiah  Smith. 138. 

KENZIE,  James,  delegate  to  Congress, 
237. 

KING,  James,  154. 

KING  of  France,  address  to  from  Cor 
poration,  301. 

KING  PHILLIP'S  WAK,  144. 

KINGSLEY'S  Life  of  Dr.  Stiles,  cited, 
38,  47-49. 

KIRB RIGHT,  Mr.,  ruins  of  his  buildings, 
277. 

KNIGHT'S  London  Illustrated, cit.ed.229. 

KNIGHT'S  History  of  Six-principle 
Baptists,  cited,  73. 

KNOWLEDGE,  useful,  surest  means  of 
securing  rights,  prosperity,  and  liber 
ty,  418. 

KKOWLES'S  Memoir  of  Roger  Williams, 
cited,  150,  192. 

KNOX,  General,  an  admirer  of  Dr.  Still- 
man,  133;  Manning  meets  at  West 
Point,  282. 

LAMB,  Charles,  playful  remark  on 
Caryl's  Job,  387. 

LAMBERT,  Nathaniel,  graduate  in  class 
of  1787,  400. 

LAND,  settlements  on  uncultivated, 
359;  large  tracts  of,  engrossed  in  few 
hands,  cause  of  weakness,  359. 

LANDED  POSSESSIONS  in  hands  of  free 
holders,  359;  the  real  strength  of  a 
nation,  382. 

LATIN  SCHOOL,  begun  by  Manning,  in 
1764,  at  Warren,  72;  removed  to 
Providence  in  1770,  67, 128 ;  removed 
to  the  College  building  in  1772,  198 ; 
references  to  by  Manning  in  his  cor 
respondence,  216,  317,  338,  339;  in 


charge  of  William  Wilkinson,  336; 
removed  from  the  College  building 
to  the  brick  schoolhouse  in  1786, 
336;  vote  of  the  Corporation  con 
cerning,  in  1794,  337;  brick  building 
erected  for  by  the  Corporation,  in 
1810,  198,  337;  now  called  the ''Uni 
versity  Grammar  School,''  67,  337. 

LATIN  SCHOOL  established  at  Provi 
dence  in  1766,  by  Benjamin  Stelle,  36. 

LATIN  SCHOOLS,  Manning  urges  Baptist 
ministers  to  open  as  nurseries  of  the 
College,  261. 

LATTING,  Mrs.  Joanna,  of  Ilillsdale,  N. 
Y.,  fourth  wife  of  Stephen  Gano,366. 

LAW,  Andrew,  graduate  in  class  of 
1775,  240,  242. 

LAW  BOOKS  purchased  for  Library  at 
expense  of  Nicholas  Brown,  394. 

LAWS  AND  CUSTOMS  of  College  of  New 
Jersey  in  1758,  28;  of  Rhode  Island 
College  in  1783,  304. 

LAWRENCE,  Deacon,  281. 

LAWRENS,  Prof.,  Manning  dines  with, 
277. 

LAYING  ON  OP  HANDS,  controversy  con 
cerning,  149.  See  IMPOSITION  OF 

HANDS. 

LEARNED,  Asa,  associated  with  Wm. 
Wilkinson,  336. 

LEDOYT,  Elder,  of  Woodstock,  286. 

LEE'S  family  at  Woodstock,  266. 

LEGISLATURE  of  Rhode  Island.  See 
RHODE  ISLAND. 

LELAND,  Thomas,  tutor  to  Augustus  M. 
Toplady,  203. 

LEMON,  Richard,  279. 

LEONID  AS,  signature  to  an  article  in 
Philadelphia  paper,  275. 

LETTERS  FROM  JAMES  MANNING  to 
John  Berridge,  253;  Abraham  Booth, 
223,  343,  385,  427  ;  committee  of  Se 
nior  Class,  240;  Corporation  of  the 
College,  296;  Editors  of  Massachu 
setts  Magazine,  100;  Caleb  Evans, 
338,  355,  383;  William  Gordon,  387; 
John  Gill,  373,  375;  Miss  A.  Howard, 
251 ;  David  Howell,  84,  291,  298,  347, 
351,  370;  Henry  Kane,  307;  Thomas 
Lapham,  Jr.,  128;  Thomas  Llewelyn, 
194,  318;  Thomas  Mackaness,  352 ;  Na- 


INDEX. 


505 


than  Miller,  291,  292;  John  Rippon, 
326,346,364,  380;  John  Ryland,  187, 
196,  199,  213,  220,  232,  243,  308,  345; 
Granvillc  Sharp,  361;  Samuel  Sten- 
nett,  121,  181,  204,  311;  Hezekiah 
Smith,  111,  186,  209,  335,  389,  398,  406, 
409,  416,  432,  436, 448;  Thomas  Ustick, 
234,  261,  331,  349,  408;  Benjamin  Wal- 
lin,  210,  221, 231,  245, 293 ;  Isaac  Wood 
man,  207 ;  letter  concerning  Dr.  Stiles, 
239. 

LETTERS  TO  JAMES  MANNING  from 
Abraham  Booth,  343,  430,  438;  com 
mittee  of  Senior  Class,  240  ;  Mor 
gan  Edwards,  118,  191,  413  ;  Caleb 
Evans,  340,  396,  414,  429;  John  Gill, 
372,  374,  376;  William  Gordon,  392, 
421;  Oliver  Hart,  32,  37, 126,  219;  Wil 
liam  Richards,  441 ;  John  Rippon,  323, 
407,440;  John  Ryland,  188,  201,  208, 
216;  Granville  Sharp,  359;  Samuel 
Stennett,  123,  310;  Benjamin  Wallin, 
211,  247;  Isaac  Woodman,  205. 
LETTERS,  MISCELLANEOUS,  Isaac  Back 
us  to  John  Gill,  71;  Isaac  Backus  to 
John  Rippon,  455;  Nicholas  Brown 
to  Hezekiah  Smith,  159,  383,  397; 
Hon.  Nicholas  Brown  to  Corporation, 
394;  English  gentlemen  on  Washing 
ton  and  Rogers,  94;  Oliver  Hart  to 
Hezekiah  Smith,  44;  David  Howell 
to  Chancellor  Hopkins,  261;  David 
Howell  to  Samuel  Jones,  454;  John 
Howlaud  to  Prof.  Knowles,  150; 
Thomas  Jefferson  to  Rhode  Island 
delegates,  303;  Asa  Messer  to  William 
Richards,  446;  E.  A.  Park  to  William 
B.  Sprague,  410;  Francis  Pelot  to 
Hezekiah  Smith,  44;  Alexander 
Proudfit  to  J.  B.  Johnson,  402;  Phil 
adelphia  to  Warren  Association,  76; 
Asher  Robbins  to  W.  G.  Goddard, 
301,  378;  Wm.  Rogers  to  Wm.  Button, 
Wm.  Rogers  to  Hezekiah  Smith,  95; 
Ezra  Stiles  to  Chancellor  Hopkins, 
49;  Hezekiah  Smith  to  his  wile,  139- 
142;  Samuel  Stillman  to  Hezekiah 
Smith,  453;  Samuel  Thurber  to  W. 
R.  Staples,  417;  James  M.  Varnum  to 
his  wife,  100  ;  Warren  Association 
letters,  83,  185,  236,  320. 

43 


LEUTZE,  E.,  artist,  397. 

LEWIS  the  Little  and  Washington  the 
Great,  436. 

LEXINGTON,  battle  of,   173,   242,   247, 
386. 

LIBERTY,  College  on  the  side  of  civil, 
240. 

LIBERTIES  of  a  country  perpetuated  by 
diffusion  of  knowledge,  418. 

LIBRARY,  condition  of,  in  1772, 194;  im 
portance  of  with  reference  to  the  Col 
lege,  194,  319;  receives  bequest  from 
Dr.  Gill,  199,  200,  205,  210;  receives 
donation  from  Wallin  of  Bunyan's, 
Booth's,  and  Wilson's  Works,  221; 
Corporation  subscribe  £700  lawful 
money  for,  308;  fourteen  hundred  vol 
umes  ordered,  the  gift  of  John  Brown, 
338;  Saurin's  Works  presented  by 
Thomas  Muliett,  311;  Works  of  John 
and  Granvillc  Sharp  presented,  358; 
consists  of  two  thousand  volumes  in 
1785,363;  receives  valuable  donation 
from  Bristol  Education  Society,  369, 
370;  William  Richards,  of  Lynn,  Eng 
land,  bequeaths  to  it  his  private  libra 
ry  of  thirteen  hundred  volumes,  447; 
receives  donation  of  law  books  from 
Hon.  Nicholas  Brown,  394;  consisted 
in  1783  of  five  hundred  volumes,  "very 
ancient  and  very  useless,  very  ragged 
and  unsightly":  in  1861  consists  of 
thirty-five  thousand  volumes  of  stand 
ard  works  in  substantial  and  costly 
bindings,  314. 
LIGHTHOUSE,  Boston,  skirmish  at,  139. 

LlLLIBRIDGE,  Mr.,  68. 

LINCOLN,  General,  attacks  the  British 
before  Charleston,  273. 

LINCOLN.  See  GOULD  AND  LINCOLN. 

LINDSEY,  Captain  of  the  packet  Han 
nah,  171. 

LINDSEY,  B..  Manning  calls  upon,  266. 

LIPPITT,  Moses,  on  committee  of  Cor 
poration  to  build  brick  house  for  the 
Grammar  School,  67. 

LITCHFIELD,  Ct.,  land  and  crops,  267. 

LITERATURE  an  handmaid  to  religion, 
207. 

LITTLEFIELD,  Major,  Manning  drives 
with  at  West  Point,  282. 


506 


I  NDEX. 


LIVINGSTON,  Governor,  British  attempt  j 

to  take,  271. 

LLEWELYN,  Thomas,  a  distinguished 
Cambro-British  scholar,  subscriber  to 
early  funds  of  the  College,  91;  refer 
ences  to,  124,  125,  182,  194,  317,  370. 
See  LETTERS. 

LLEWELYN  COLLEGE,  name  suggested 
by  Manning  for  Rhode  Island  College, 
319. 

LOCKE  on   the   Understanding,  text 
book  in  College,  305. 
LONGINUS  on  the  Sublime,  text-book 

in  College,  305. 

LONGFELLOW,  Henry  W.,  401. 
LORING,  James,  Reminiscences  of  Dr. 

Stillman,  cited,  134. 

LOSSING'S  Pictorial  History  of  the 
American  Revolution,  cited,  170,  274, 
278. 

LOTTERY,  suggested  to  aid  the  College, 
197;  Harvard,  Yale,  Princeton,  Dr. 
Hopkins's  Church,  Newport,  etc., 
aided  by  lotteries,  197;  list  of  lotteries 
granted  by  General  Assembly, 1752-79 
197;  to  aid  in  building  Baptist  meet 
ing-house,  228;  Ryland-s  opinion  of 
lotteries,  203  ;  Manning's  opinion, 
214. 
LOVE'S  Surveying,text-bookin  College, 

305. 

LOWNDES'S  Bibliographer's  Manual,  ci 
ted,  446. 

LOWTH'S  Vernacular  Grammar,  text 
book  in  College,  305. 

LUDDINGTON,  Col.,  283. 

LUDLOW,  Peter,  married  daughter  o 
Stephen  Gano,  366. 

LUDLOW,  Mrs.,  and  the  MANNING  PA 
PERS,  7. 

LYNDON,  Josias,  47;  connection  with 
College  Charter,  54;  present  at  firsl 
meeting  of  Corporation,  04;  at  meet 
ing  to  determine  location  of  College, 
110;  Governor  of  Rhode  Island,  66. 

LYON,  Ebenezer,  baptizes  Winchester 
332. 

LYON,  Merrick  and  Emory,  Principals 
of  the"  University  Grammar  School," 
67. 

LYON'S  FARMS,  272,  280. 


MCCLELLAN,  Wm.,  admitted  to  the  de 
gree  of  A.  B.  in  1782,  289. 
MACCLURE,  David,  438. 
McDuGAL,  General,  282. 
MACLAURIN'S  Fluxions,  217. 
MAIN  STREET,  Providence,  paved  by 

John  Brown,  168. 

VIACKANESS,  Thomas,  of  London,  part 
ner  with  Mr.  Thornton,  244,  247,  251, 
253,  293,  352;  Manning  writes  to,  353. 
McKm,  John,  335. 

MS,  from  Baltimore,  279. 
MANN,     Horace,     marries     youngest 

daughter  of  President  Messer,  410. 
MANILIUS'S  Astronomicon,  304. 
MANNING,  James,  birth  and  parentage, 
24;   enters  the  Hopewell  Academy, 
25;  conversion  and  baptism,  26;  ad 
mitted  into  the  College  of  New  Jersey 
at    Princeton,  27;    student    life,  31; 
death  of  President  Davies,  32 ;  gradu 
ates  with  salutatory  honors,  32;  mar 
riage,  33;   father-in-law,  34;   ordina 
tion,  34  ;  travels  through  the  Colonies, 
36;  receives  call  from  Baptist  church 
in  Charleston,  S.C.,37;  Rhode  Inland 
College    projected    by    Philadelphia 
Baptist  Association,  43;  Manning  es 
pecially  intrusted  with  the  enterprise, 
45;  arrival  at  Newport  in  July,  1763, 
45;  his  own  narrative  of  the  history 
of  the  College  from  this  point,  46-51; 
present  at  first  meeting  of  Corpora 
tion,    C4;    removes   to   Warren    and 
begins  a  Latin  School,  67;  organizes 
a  Baptist    church    and   becomes  the 
pastor,  68-70;  appointed  President  of 
the  College,  71 ;  founder  of  the  War 
ren    Association,    72-84;    gives    the 
charge  at  Hezckiah  Smith's  ordina 
tion,  75,  130;  writes  the  circular  let 
ter  of  Warren  Association  in  17G9, 83; 
promir.encc  ar.d  usefulness  cs  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Warren  and  Phi'adelphia 
Associations,  82-83;  sunders  his  con 
nection  with  the  church  at  Warren, 
and  removes  with  the  College  to  Prov 
idence,  in  1770,  117, 118;  new  and  en 
larged  sphere  of  action,    120;   gives 
right  hand  of  fellowship  at  Dr.  Shep- 
ard's  ordination  in    Stratham,  123; 


INDEX. 


507 


settlement  as  pastor  of  the  Baptist 
church,  Providence,  178-180;  feelings 
in  view  of  the  responsibility  of  his  po 
sition  as  pastor  and  President.  181; 
placed  by  divine  Providence  at  head 
of  the  College,  181 ;  not  for  ease  and 
worldly  advantage,  182;  preaches 
with  happy  zeal  and  earnestness,  183 ; 
address  to  graduating  class  of  1771, 
193 ;  skill  in  urging  claims  of  the  Col 
lege  upon  men  of  wealth,  194;  sug 
gests  to  Ryland  a  lottery  to  aid  the 
College,  197;  retains  charge  of  the 
Latin  School,  and  furnishes  students 
with  text-books,  198 ;  salary  in  1772, 
199;  journey  through  the  western 
provinces,  200;  suggests  a  visit  to 
England  to  collect  funds  for  College, 
200;  distressed  with  headache,  207; 
makes  a  preaching  tour  in  Connecti 
cut  during  vacation,  209;  his  genial 
companionship  and  rare  social  quali 
ties,  209;  designs  to  write  and  publish 
a  narrative  of  the  College,  215,  220; 
uses  the  "  discipline  of  the  rod,"  219; 
spends  a  fall  vacation,  in  1773,  riding 
350  miles,  preaching  twenty-five  times 
and  baptizing,  221,223;  influences  his 
church  and  congregation  to  build  a 
new  meeting-house,  230;  chairman  of 
committee  to  draft  charter  for  Bap 
tist  society,  227;  delayed  in  writing 
history  of  the  College  by  "  grievous 
diarrhoea,"  231,232;  special  effort  in 
1774  in  behalf  of  religious  liberty,  235- 
239;  duties  and  occupation  during  the 
interruption  of  College  by  the  war, 
243;  great  revival  in  his  church  at 
breaking  out  of  the  war,  246;  tact  and 
delicacy  in  efforts  to  alleviate  the  dis 
tressed,  250;  skill  as  a  controversial 
ist,  253;  instance  of  humane  disposi- 
sition,  259;  discharges  with  skill  an 
important  and  civil  function,  259, 260 ; 
anecdote  respecting  "  dark  day, "260; 
thoughts  of  the  College  uppermost  in 
in  his  mind,  urges  Baptist  ministers 
to  open  Latin  schools  as  nurseries  of, 
261;  sets  out  with  Mrs.  Manning  on 
journey  to  Philadelphia  in  1779,  265 ; 
diary  during  absence  of  five  months, 


266-286;  illustration  of  his  high  social 
position,  283;  endeavors  to  revive 
College  instruction  in  1780,  288;  sala 
ry  $300, 288 ;  on  committee  of  Warren 
Association  to  prepare  spelling-book 
and  Baptist  catechism,  291;  retains 
the  idea  of  travelling  to  solicit  funds 
for  the  College,  292,  299 ;  presents  me 
morial  to  the  Corporation  on  the  sub 
ject,  295-297 ;  dignity  and  grace  as  a 
presiding  officer  at  Commencements, 
300;  prepares  new  digest  of  the  Col 
lege  laws,  304;  ideas  respecting  col 
lege  government  and  discipline,  307; 
sketches  plan  for  an  education  socie 
ty  to  aid  pious  students,  315,  316; 
keeps  an  assortment  of  books  import 
ed  yearly  for  supply  of  College  and 
friends,  317;  prompted  to  plan  voy 
age  to  Europe.326;  Moderator  of  War 
ren  Association  in  1784,  330 ;  appoint 
ed  by  Philadelphia  Association  to  in 
vestigate  and  report  on  Winchester, 
335;  prepares  and  sends  catalogue  of 
books  in  College  Library  to  Caleb 
Evans,  338;  "oppressed  with  cares," 
"  trying  experiences,"  342  ;  salary 
eighty  pounds  per  annum,  342;  re 
ceives  in  1785  the  honorary  degree  of 
Doctor  in  Divinity  from  the  Univer 
sity  of  Pennsylvania,  350;  regards  it 
as  "an  empty  sound,"  350;  baptizes 
three,  and  preaches  to  large  and  at 
tentive  audiences,  353;  confined  to 
constant  teaching  at  the  College,  353; 
conceives  plan  for  educating  Baptist 
ministers  in  Kentucky,  354;  details, 
356,  367;  believes  in  "acts  of  public 
utility,"  357;  zeal  in  behalf  of  minis 
terial  education,  358;  assists  at  ordi 
nation  of  his  nephew,  Stephen  Gano, 
365;  carries  an  application  to  Con 
gress  for  rents  and  damages  of  Col 
lege  building,  366;  preaches  funeral 
sermon  of  Joseph  Brown,  163,  371; 
unanimously  appointed,  in  1786,  to 
represent  Rhode  Island  in  the  Con 
gress  of  the  Confederation,  378;  com 
plimented  by  Dr.  Jackson,  of  Con 
necticut,  for  his  readiness  and  skill  as 
a  writer,  379 ;  controversy  in  Congress 


508 


INDEX. 


with  a  delegate  from  Georgia,  379; 
reasons  for  accepting  appointment  to 
Congress,  381,  384,  388  ;  interests  of 
the  College  uppermost  in  his  mind, 
380;  desires  fund  to  educate  pious 
Baptist  youth,  331;  considers  politics 
as  out  of  his  province,  381,  384;  de 
clines  pastoral  care  of  the  church  as 
incompatible  with  College  engage 
ments,  381,  383;  unconsciously  de 
scribes  his  own  character  as  a  pastor 
and  preacher,  381;  endeavors  to  per 
suade  Hezekiah  Smith  to  succeed  him 
in  the  pastorate,  389;  trying  situation 
iu  Congress  without  a  colleague  and 
without  funds,  390,  391,  392;  treated 
with  respect  by  members  of  Congress, 
comprehends  fully  the  great  questions 
of  the  hour,  391,  406;  sick,  in  1787, 
without  provisions,  wood,  or  money, 
398;  has  serious  thoughts  of  retiring 
to  farm  in  the  Jerseys,  and  "  digging" 
for  a  support,  399;  anxious  for  the 
ratification  of  the  Constitution,  404- 
403  ;  attends  upon  the  debates  and 
proceedings  of  the  Massachusetts  Con 
vention,  called  upon  by  Gov.  Hancock 
to  "  close  the  solemn  convocation 
with  thanksgiving  and  prayer,"  ex 
traordinary  impression  produced  by 
his  devotion  and  eloquence,  404-406; 
adoption  of  the  Constitution  in  Khode 
Island  largely  due  to  his  wise  coun 
sels  and  superior  influence,  407;  assists 
Gano,  his  brother-in-law,  off  for  Ken 
tucky,  411 ;  demand  for  his  services 
in  College  greater  than  ever,  411;  ef 
forts  in  behalf  of  popular  education, 
chairman  of  school  committee,  draws 
up  report  in  favor  of  free  public 
schools,  etc.,  416-419;  drafts  petition 
to  Congress  in  behalf  of  citizens  of 
1'rovideuce,  424;  address  to  graduat 
ing  class  of  1789,  425-427;  custom  at 
every  Commencement  to  charge  pu 
pils  not  to  enter  the  ministry  until 
converted,  427;  has  thoughts  of  pre 
paring  an  Essay  on  the  Kingdom  of 
Christ,  428;  revival  in  his  church, 
house  crowded  with  anxious  inquir 
ers,  434 ;  presides  for  the  last  time  at 


Commencement,  436;  resigns  his  pas 
toral  oflice  and  preaches  farewell  ser 
mon,  449;  notifies  the  Corporation  to 
look  out  for  a  successor,  449,  450 ;  sin 
gular  presentiment  of  his  approaching 
mortality  :  sickness,  death,  and  fune 
ral,  450-455  ;  personal  appearance, 
habits,  character,  and  influence,  456, 
457,  459,  460;  original  portrait,  459; 
corpulency,  460;  devotion  to  the  Col 
lege  the  animating  motive  of  his  con 
duct,  and  the  improvement  of  the 
Baptist  denomination  the  object  of 
his  life,  462,  463  ;  no  extended  me 
moir  of  him  ever  published,  5  ;  ac 
count  of  the  Manning  Papers.  7.  See 
COLLEGE,  BAPTISTS,  and  LETTERS. 

MANNING,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  James, 
34,  68,  209,  265,  351 ;  baptized  by  her 
husband,  34,  246 ;  "  boast  of  her  sex," 
260. 

MANNING,  Isaac,  father  of  James,  24, 
280,281. 

MANNING,  Catherine,  mother  of  James, 
24,  280,  292. 

MANNING,  Enoch,  brother  of  James,448. 

MANNING,  Jeremiah,  brother  of  James, 
271,  272,  280. 

MANNING,  Joseph,  brother  of  James, 
"ruling  elder  "in  the  Scotch  Plains 
church,  271,  272,  280. 

MANNING,  John,  brother  of  James,  280. 

MANNING,  John,  cousin  of  James,  280, 
448. 

MANNING,  Benjamin,  272,  278. 

MANNING,  Capt.  William,  272. 

MANNING  HALL,  erected  by  Hon.  Nich 
olas  Brown  and  presented  to  the  Uni 
versity,  395;  named  in  honor  of  his 
"  distinguished  instructor  and  revered 
friend,  President  Manning,"  395. 

MANSION  of  John  Brown,  one  of  the 
finest  private  residences  in  New  Eng 
land,  169;  College  mansion,  built  in 
1770,  296. 

MARSH,  Joseph,  of  Philadelphia,  95. 

MARSH,  Susannah,  second  wife  of  Dr. 
Itogers,  95. 

MARLOW  on  singing  in  public  worship, 
179. 

MARTIN,  Jacob,  272. 


509 


MARTIN,  Mr.,  Baptist  minister  of  Lon 
don,  bitter  enemy  of  the  Americans, 
393. 

MARTIN  on  the  Globes,  text-book  in 
College,  also  Trigonometry  and  Phil- 
osophia  Britannica,  305. 
MARTIN,  ship  in  which  Chad  Brown 

came  over,  143. 

MASON,  Deacon,  of  Boston,  353. 
MASON,  llussell,  present  at  early  meet 
ings  of  Corporation,  67;  at  meeting 
which  determined  location  of  College 
110;  on  committee  to  wait  on  Man 
ning,  112;  Manning  advises  with  in 
reference  to  pastorate  of  church  at 
Providence,  179. 
MASON,  Job,  179. 
MASON,  James  Brown,  son-in-law  of 

John  Brown,  170. 
MASON,  Jonathan,  Jr.,  424. 
MASONIC    FRATERNITY,    Dr.     llogers 
member    of,  93;  Gen.    Varnum,    97, 
100;  Joseph.  John,  and  Moses  Brown 
members,  175;  Dr.  Gano  and  Bishop 
(Jriswold,  3G6. 

MASSACHUSETTS,  shamefully  deficient 
in  number  of  Continental  troops,  141; 
and   Warwick,   Rhode    Island,    146; 
Convention  for  adoption  of  Federal 
Constitution,  account  of,  403,  404. 
MASSACHUSETTS  MISSIONARY  MAGA 
ZINE,  cited,  40,  100,  440. 
MAWNEY,  John,  actor  in  affair  of  the 

Gaspee,  172. 

MAXSON,  John,  present  at  first  meeting 
of  Corporation,  64;  at  meeting  to  de 
termine  final  location  of  College,  110; 
on  committee  to  wait  on  Manning, 
112. 

MAXCY,  Jonathan,  pupil  of  William 
Williams,  105;  graduate  in  class  of 
1787,  401 ;  youngest  tutor  in  College, 
baptized  by  Manning, 428;  licensed  to 
preach,  preaches  to  admiration,  432; 
supplies  pulpit  six  months,  improves 
amazingly,  437 ;  elected  pastor  of  Bap 
tist  church  in  1791,  448;  elected  Pres 
ident  pro  tempore  in  1792,  and  Presi 
dent  in  1797,  401;  references  to,  164» 
296,  307,  316,452;  biographical  sketch, 
401-403. 

43* 


MAXCY,  Virgil,  son  of  Jonathan,  403. 

MEACIIAM,  Joseph,  81. 

MEETING  STREET  schoolhouse,  119, 198. 

MECHANICS,  Joseph  Brown's  favorite 
study,  162. 

MEDFIELD,  Warren  Association  meets 
at,  236. 

MEDICAL  SCHOOLS,  Harvard  one  of  the 
earliest  in  America,  300. 

MERCHANT,  Mr.,  277. 

MESNARD,  Thomas,  326,  440. 

MESSER,  A^:a,  enters  Sophomore  Class 
in  College,  409;  graduates  in  class  of 
1790,  436;  corresponds  with  Dr.  Rich 
ards  respecting  the  College,  446;  ref 
erences  to,  296,  436,  448;  biographical 
sketch,  409-411.  See  LETTERS. 

MIDLAND  ASSOCIATION,  England,  203. 

MIFLIN,  Thomas,  delegate  to  Congress, 
237. 

MILFORD,  Ct.,  Manning  attends  elec 
tion  meeting  in,  284. 

MILES,  John,  pastor  of  First  Baptist 
Church,  Boston,  135. 

MILES,  Samuel,  of  Philadelphia,  435. 

MILLER,  Andrew,  bookseller  in  Eng- 
iand,  217. 

MILLER,  Benjamin,  Manning's  early 
pastor,  26;  friendship  for  Isaac  Stelle, 
33;  Moderator  of  Philadelphia  Asso 
ciation,  77 ;  present  at  second  meeting 
of  Warren  Association,  78;  Manning 
visits,  272,  280,  281;  death,  295;  brief 
sketch  of,  26,  27. 

MILLER,  Daniel,  represents  Cumber 
land  Church  at  first  meeting  of  War 
ren  Association,  75. 

MILLER,  Col.  Nathan,  of  Warren,  Man 
ning's  colleague  in  Congress,  391, 392; 
daughter  married  to  William  Wil 
liams,  104.  See  LETTERS. 

MILLER,  Patience,  daughter  of  Nathan, 
104. 

MINISTER  of  Christ  not  to  meddle 
with  politics,  245;  to  succeed  Manning 
in  the  pastorate,  description  of,  381, 
382. 

MINUTES  of  Philadelphia  and  Warren 
Associations,  cited,  56,  74,  81,  290,  320. 
See  WARREN  and  PHILADELPHIA. 
MITCHELL,  Edward,  154. 


510 


INDEX. 


MODERATION,  spirit  of  more  prevalent, 

3G2. 

MONEY,  scarcity  of,  339,  384,  388. 
MONOPOLIZERS,  forestallers,  etc.,  275. 
MONTAGUE,  Admiral,  171. 
MONTAGUE,  Richard,  81. 
MONTAGUE,  Tommy,  "  flaming  young 

preacher,"  412. 

MOORE'S  SCHEME  for  College,  125, 184. 
MOORE,  Dr.,  of  Bordentown,  277. 
MORALS  of  the  country  improving,  362. 
MOREHOUSE,  Col.,  268. 
Mono  AN,    Abel,  and  Mr.  Hollis,  40; 

receives  honorary  degree  of  the  Col 
lege,  89. 
MORGAN,  Dr.  John,  brother-in-law  of 

Dr.  Stillmau,  133. 
MORGAN,  Capt.,  271. 
MORRICE,  Robert,   original  owner  of 

part  of  College  lot,  116. 
MORRIS,  Mr.,  of  Philadelphia,  279. 
MORRIS,  Col.,  Manning  dines  with  at 

Greene's  headquarters,  282. 
MORRISTOWN    to    Warwick,    N.    Y., 

country  full  of  grain,  270. 
MOTHER,  The,  and  her  adherents,  312. 

313. 

MOULDERS,  Mr.,  277,  279. 
MOUNT  TOM,  "  tremendous  precipice," 

268. 
MOUNT  VERNON  LODGE,  Providence, 

Dr.  Gauo  member  of,  366. 
MULLETT,  Thomas,  brother-in-law  of 

Caleb  Evans.  308 ;  references  to,  310, 

340, 341,355,  414;  sketch  and  anecdote 

of,  310,  311. 

MUMFORD,  Paul,  Chief  Justice,  99. 
MURRAT,  John,  propagates  doctrine  of 

universal  salvation,  294,  312. 

NARRATIVE  of  the  College,  referred  to 
in  Manning's  correspondence,  206, 
208,  212,  217,  220,  222,  250;  never  com 
pleted,  232,  233. 

NASH,  Samuel,  graduate  in  class  of 
1770, 128. 

NASSAU  HALL,  Princeton,  27, 112, 116. 

NATIONAL  ALMANAC  for  1864,  cited, 
38. 

NATURAL  HISTORY,  Dr.  Waterhouse 
lectures  on,  300. 


NEALE,  Rollin  H.,  pastor  of  First 
Baptist  Church,  Boston,  135. 

NEGROES  and  Indian  slaves  enlisted  as 
soldiers,  264. 

NELSON,  Rev.  Mr.,  at  Haverhill,  111. 

NESHAMING  FORD,  273. 

NEAV  AMERICAN  CYCLOPAEDIA,  cited, 
239. 

NEW  BAPTIST  MAGAZINE,  cited,  94. 

NEAV  ENGLAND,  197, 199,  293; 362,  364. 

NEW  HAVEN,  burnt  and  sacked  by  the 
British,  277,  285. 

NEWPORT,  rival  of  Providence  for  lo 
cation  of  the  College,  109-114;  second 
city  iu  New  England,  and  centre  of 
wealth  refinement  and  learning,  113; 
application  to  General  Assembly  for 
another  college  to  be  located  in,  114; 
British  troops  take  possession  oi',  242. 

NEW  EOCHELLE,  Gauo's  ancestors  set 
tled  at,  34. 

NEW  TESTAMENT,text-book  in  College, 
305. 

NEW  YORK,  plot  formed  to  blow  up 
and  destroy,  Mayor  in  confinement, 
141;  British  take  possession  of,  269; 
vigorous  exertions  to  retake,  142 ;  re 
vival  in,  364. 

NEW  YORK  RECORDER,  cited,  46. 

NEWTON,  James,  369,  384. 

NEWTON,  John,  189. 

NIGHTINGALE,  Col.,  "  grand  farm,  ele 
gant  hospitality,"  266. 

NOBLE'S  Memoirs  of  Protect/oral  House 
of  Cromwell,  446. 

NORCOTT'S  work  on  Baptism,  means 
of  Dr.  Shepard's  conversion,  123. 

NORTH  BURYING-GROUND,  Providence, 
149. 

NORWALK,  burnt  by  the  British,  277. 

NUNN,  Mary,  of  Cork,  Ireland,  wife  of 
Morgan  Edwards,  45. 

OLD  CONGRESS,  sessions  in  Carpenter's 
Hall,  237. 

OLNEY,  Thomas,  minister  of  the  Bap 
tist  church,  Providence,  148,  154. 

OLNEY,  Mr.,  Manning  dines  with  at 
West  Point,  282. 

OLIVER,  Alderman,  committed  to  the 
Tower,  184. 


INDEX. 


511 


OPPRESSION  of  the  Baptists  by  the 
«  Standing  Order,"  80,  185,  235-238, 
330,  331.  See  BAPTISTS,  DISTRESS, 
and  PERSECUTION. 

OTIS,  Major,  calls  on  Manning,  285. 

OULTON,  John,  of  England,  190. 

OXFORD  UNIVERSITY,  Obadiah  Holmes 
educated  at,  151. 

PAGE,  Benj.,  actor  in  affair  of  the  Gas- 
pee,  172. 

PAINE,  Robert  Treat,  delegate  to  Con 
gress,  237. 

TAPER  MONEY,  depreciation  of,  265, 
275;  emissions  of,  flagrant  violation 
of  the  public  faith,  392;  case  of  Tre- 
vett  vs.  Weeden,  98,  99. 

PARABLE  of  the  Sower,  Stennett's  ser 
mons  on  "truly  excellent,"  414. 

PARCHMENT  of  William  Williams,  106. 

PARK,  Edwards  A.,  Memoir  of  Dr. 
Hopkins,  cited,  197;  sketch  of  Presi 
dent  Messer,  cited,  410. 

PARKER,  Isaiah,  Trustee  of  Baptist  Ed 
ucation  Fund,  316. 

PARKER,  Sir  Peter,  takes  possession  of 
Newport,  242. 

PARLIAMENT,  sovereignty  of  over  all 
the  British  dominions,  125. 

PATRIOT  STATESMAN,  Manning's  ca 
reer  as  a,  378. 

PATRONAGE  of  the  College  contributes 
directly  to  the  propagation  of  the 
gospel  in  its  simplicity,  319. 

PATTERSON,  Esquire,  283. 

PEALE,  Rembrandt,  93,  396. 

PEARCE,  Daniel,  171. 

PEASE,  Simon,  present  at  first  meeting 

of  the  Corporation,  63. 
PEDOBAPTISTS  and  the  Baptists,  108 
295,  330,  331,  339,  349,  428.    See  CON 

GREGATIONALISTS,  PRESBYTERIANS 

and  STANDING  ORDER. 

PEIRCE'S  History  of  Harvard  Univ-er 
sity,  cited,  40,  121. 

PHILADELPHIA,  236,  237,  276. 

PHILADELPHIA  BAPTIST  ASSOCIA 
TION,  founded  in  1707,  39;  aids  th 
Hopewell  Academy,  40;  plans  Rhod 
Island  College,  43;  sends  committe 
to  Newport  to  alter  and  amend  firs 


draft  of  the  Charter,  50,  54;  influ 
ence  in  behalf  of  the  College,  56,  57; 
references  to,  75,  77,  82,  83,  205,  236- 
238,  274,  458,  335,  461. 
PHILADELPHIA,  Baptist  church.    See 

BAPTIST. 
PHILBRICK,  James  and  wife,  baptized, 

122. 

PHILIPS,  Mr.,  tavern  at  Litchfield,  267. 
PELOT,  Francis,  aids  in  founding  the 
"  Religious  Society,"  of  Charleston, 
31;  writes  to  Hezekiah  Smith  respect 
ing  Morgan  Edwards,  44;  appointed 
to  address  the  Baptist  churches 
throughout  America  in  behalf  of  the 
College,  58;  reference  to.  219.  See 
LETTERS. 

PEMBERTON,  Israel  and  James,  Quak 
ers  of  Philadelphia,  237,  239. 
'ENMANSHIP,    Manning   excelled   in, 
25. 
PENN,  Thomas,  subscriber  to  the  early 

funds  of  the  College,  91. 
'ENNEPEK,  and  vicinity,  274. 
PENNSYLVANIA  GAZETTE,  cited,  33. 
PENNSYLVANIA  LINE  under  Gen.  St. 
Clair,  271. 

'ERIAM,    Joseph,   classmate   of  Man 
ning,  33. 

?ERKINS,  Nathan,  438. 
PERRY,  Commodore,  hero  of  Lake  Erie, 

portrait  in  Rhode  Island  Hall,  396. 
PERSECUTION,  instances  of,  138,  331; 
remarks  of  Prof.  linowles  on  perse 
cution  and  intolerance,  191, 192. 
PITMAN,  Rev.  Mr.,  278. 
PITMAN'S  Alumni  Address,  cited,  87. 
PLACE,  Elder,  154. 
POLAND  a  monarchial  despotism,  359. 
POLEMIC  warfare,  Manning  skilful  in, 

253. 
POLITICS,  ministers  not  to  meddle  with, 

245. 

POLSIPER,  Hannah,  baptized,  123. 
POPULAR  APPLAUSE,  sought  by  Win 
chester,  333. 

POPULAR  EDUCATION,  Manning's   ef 
forts  in  behalf  of,  416. 
POPULARITY  of  Maxcy  almost  unprec 
edented,  403. 
PORTER,  William,  of  England,  190. 


512 


INDEX. 


PORTRAITS  in  llhode  Island  Hall,  ac 
count  of,  306,  397. 

POWELL.  Joseph,  educated  at  the  Hope- 
well  Academy,  42. 

POWER,  Col.  Nicholas,  father-in-law  of 
James  Brown,  155. 

POWER,  Hope,  daughter  of  Col.  Nicho 
las  and  grandaughter  of  Rev.  Pardon 
Tilliiighast,  155. 

POWER,  Nicholas,  father-in-law  of  Jo 
seph  Brown,  101,  228. 

POWER,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Nicho 
las,  164. 

POYNTING,  John,  of  England,  190. 

PRAYER  for  colleges,  importance  of, 
23. 

PRAYER  and  imposition  of  hands,  92. 

PREACHING  to  the  poor  without  recom 
pense,  "  godlike,"  399. 

PRESBYTERIANS  and  Baptists,  325,  350, 
357.  3G7,  407,  437,  442;  name  used  by 
Manning,  Edwards,  and  others,  for 
Congregationalists,  186;  of  England, 
and  Socinianism,  189.  See  CONGRE 
GATIONALISTS  and  STANDING  OR 
DER. 

PRESBYTERIAN  SYNOD  of  New  York, 
founds  College  of  New  Jersey,  27. 

PREDESTINATION,  Toplady's  Treatise 
on.221. 

PREJUDICES  against  the  Baptists  great 
ly  abated,  328. 

PRESENT,  Jcremfah,  baptized,  122. 

PRESIDENT'S  house,  erected  on  College 
premises  in  1770,  296- 

PRESIDENT'S  Levee,  took  the  place  of 
the  "  Commencement  Sermon,"  90. 

PREVOST,  General,  attacks  Charleston, 
273. 

PRICE,  Richard,  referred  to  by  Maxcy, 
as  (i  preeminent  in  virtue,"  402. 

PRICES,  lowering  of  by  committee  at 
Philadelphia,  276. 

PRIESTLEY,  Joseph,  "  gone  to  the  ne 
plus  ultra  of  heresy,"  415 ;  referred  to 
by  Maxcy  as  "  preeminent  in  virtue," 
402;  Lectures  on  History  "  best  book 
on  that  interesting  subject."  414;  ref 
erences  to,  431,  439. 

PRINCLTON,  College  of  New  Jersey  re 
moved  to,  27.  j 


PRINTS  of  Gill,  Evans,  and  Rippon, 
325,  326. 

PRISONERS  taken  at  Stony  Point  "fine 
looking  men,"  279. 

PRIVATE  SCHOOLS  less  efficient  than 
public,  418,  419. 

PROFESSION,  bias  of  natural  inclination 
to  be  consulted  in  the  selection  of, 
426. 

PROFESSION  of  religion,  never  made  by 
Nicholas  Brown,  158. 

PROPHESYING  among  early  Baptists  in 
Providence,  148. 

PROUDFIT,  Alexander,  402.  See  LET 
TERS.  • 

PROVIDENCE,  home  of  Roger  Williams 
and  centre  of  Baptist  influence,  114; 
Providence,  Roger  Williams  and 
Chad  Brown, 143- 150;  contest  between 
and  Newport  in  reference  to  loca 
tion  of  the  College,  1C9-114;  raising 
of  the  Baptist  meeting-house  a  holi 
day,  229;  deed  of  College  lot  and 
names  of  original  owners,  115,  116;  re 
vival,  244,  246,  293:  martial  law  pro 
claimed,  242;  condition  during  the 
war,  292,  293,  313,  314;  trade  again 
opened  direct  to  London,  309;  bells 
tolled  and  school  children  dismissed 
on  death  of  Dr.  Gano,  365;  praised 
for  its  political  action  with  reference 
to  Federal  Constitution,  414;  free 
schools,  417-419;  petition  to  Con 
gress  praying  that  vessels  may  be  ex 
empted  from  foreign  tonnage,  424; 
ringing  of  bells  and  booming  of  can 
non  on  adoption  of  Federal  Consti 
tution,  433;  visit  of  General  Washing 
ton  and  suite,  433. 

PROVIDENCE  ASSOCIATION  OP  ME 
CHANICS,  419. 

PROVIDENCE  ATHENAEUM,  Nicholas 
Brown,  beneafctor  of,  395. 

PROVIDENCE  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  See 
BAPTIST. 

PROVIDENCE  ENCAMPMENT,  Dr.  Gano 
and  Bishop  Griswold  members  of, 
306. 

PROVIDENCE  GAZETTE,  cited,  8,  88, 109, 
127, 193,  198,  240, 243, 258,  287,  433,  451, 
459. 


INDEX. 


513 


PUBLIC  SCHOOLS,  established  in  Provi 
dence  in  1800,  419 ;  more  efficient  than 
private,  418. 

PULASKI,  Count,  attacks  the  British  and 
is  repulsed,  273. 

PYE,  John,  of  England,  190. 

QUAKERS,  or  Friends,  represented  at 
first  meeting  of  the  Corporation,  65; 
allowed  to  wear  their  hats  in  College, 
GO. 

QUINCY'S  History  of  Harvard  Univer 
sity,  cited,  121,  122. 

RAISING  of  the  new  Baptist  meeting 
house,  general  holiday  in  town,  229. 

RANDAL,  Dr.,  292. 

RANDALL,  Rev.  Dr.,  of  Boston,  175. 

RANDALL,  Rev.  Mr.,  of  Warwick,  270. 

RANDOLPH,  Joseph,  uncle  of  Manning, 
271, 280. 

RANDOLPH,  Mrs.  Ephraim,  aunt  of 
Manning,  448. 

RANDOLPH,  Capt.  Samuel,  272. 

RATES,  non-payment  of,  by  Baptists, 
231. 

RATIFICATION  of  the  Federal  Consti 
tution  in  Massachusetts,406 ;  in  Rhode 
Island,  433. 

RAWMAGIN  Iron-Works,  268. 

READ,  Josiah,  graduate  in  class  of 
1775,  240. 

READ,  Seth,  graduate  in  class  of  1770. 
128- 

REBAPTIZING,  Evans  upon,  429. 

REDWOOD,  Abraham,  largest  subscriber 
in  Newport  for  the  College,  109. 

REDWOOD,  Dr.,  of  Philadelphia,  276. 

REDWOOD  LIBRARY,  Newport,  second 
library  in  the  country,  113. 

REDJIEN,  Dr.  John,  an  adherent  of 
Winchester,  334. 

REED,  President  of  Pennsylvania,  275. 

REEVE,  lawyer  of  Litchfield,  268. 

REFORMATION  in  New  England  during 
latter  part  of  the  war,  294. 

REHOBOTH,  Mass.,  Winchester  settled 
in,  333. 

RELIGION,  state  of  through  America, 
308. 

RELIGION  of  Jesus,  nature  of,  326. 


RELIGIOUS  CONDITION  of  New  England 
during  the  war,  293. 

RELIGIOUS  OPINIONS,  diversity  of,  to  be 
expected,  402. 

RELIGIOUS  LIBERTY,  contended  for  by 
Roger  Williams  and  all  true  Baptists, 
47,  59;  Backus's  labors  to  promote, 
131;  Manning's  exertions  in  favor  of, 
235,  233-239;  Baptists  determined  to 
secure,  330,  331;  doctrines  of,  better 
understood  after  the  war,  322,  339. 

RELIGIOUS  SOCIETY  of  Charleston,  to 
aid  pious  students,  31, 133. 

RELLY'S  Doctrine  of  Union,  etc.,  cited, 
312. 

REPAIRS  of  the  College,  329. 

REPORTS,  exaggerated,  respecting  vic 
tories,  273. 

RESTORATION,  UNIVERSAL,  doctrine 
propagated  by  Winchester,  333,  334. 

REVERENCE  for  Deity,  Mr.  Brown  re 
markable  for,  158, 159. 

REVIVALS  OF  RELIGION,  references  to, 
61, 153,  180,  244,  245,  309,  324,  328,  344, 
384,  386,  406,  409,  410,  412,  432. 

REYNOLDS,  John,  honorary  degree  con 
ferred  on,  128. 

RHODE  ISLAND,  laud  of  Baptists,  42; 
decided  religious  faith  of  first  settlers, 
46;  first  Stale  holiday  inaugurated, 
87;  trying  period  in  early  history,  152; 
lotteries  granted  by  General  Assem 
bly,  197;  firm  in  the  cause  of  consti 
tutional  liberty,  208;  extreme  suffer 
ings  of  the  people  during  the  war, 
258-260,  264,  313-314;  taxes  enormous, 
265;  "likely  to  hold  a  distinguished 
place  among  the  contributors  to  the 
ruin  of  the  Federal  Government," 
392;  wilful  blindness  of  the  General 
Assembly,  "infamous  set  of  men," 
98,  99,  398;  act  in  relation  to  free 
schools,  419;  rejects  the  Constitution, 
"rulers  deliberately  wicked,"  411; 
make  "  disgraceful  figure  among  her 
sister  States,"  414;  adoption  of  the 
Constitution  in  1790  by  a  vote  of  two 
majority,  433;  zeal  in  struggle  for  lib 
erty  and  independence  acknowledged 
by  Washington,  435;  limitation  of 
clause  in  the  College  Charter  exempt- 


514 


INDEX. 


ing  Professors  from  taxation,  made 
by  General  Assembly  in  1863,  479. 

KIIODE  ISLAND  BAPTIST  EDUCATION 
SOCIETY,  816. 

RHODE  ISLAND  COLLEGE.  See  COL 
LEGE. 

RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY, 
9, 146. 

RHODE  ISLAND  HALL,  Brown  Univer 
sity,  collection  of  portraits  in,  393,  397. 

RHODE  ISLAND  LITERARY  REPOSITO 
RY,  cited,  6,  2G9. 

RHODES,  Mayor  of  Philadelphia,  237. 

RICHARDS,  William,  of  Lynn,  England, 
letter  to  Manning,  441;  skclch  of  his 
life  and  works,  445-447 ;  bequeaths  his 
collection  of  books,  consisting  of 
thirteen  hundred  volumes,  to  Library 
of  Brown  University,  447.  See  LET 
TERS. 

RICHMOND,  N.  H.,  Baptists  distressed 
by  "  Standing  Order,"  186. 

RICHMOND'S  brick  house,  119. 

RICKARD,  George,  original  owner  of 
part  of  College  lot,  116. 

RILEY,  Mr.,  of  Northampton,  386. 

RIND,  Mr.,  of  Charleston,  early  in 
structor  of  Dr.  Stillman,  132. 

RINGWOOD,  England,  situation  of,  421. 

RIPPON,  John,  successor  of  Dr.  Gill, 
opens  a  correspondence  with  Man 
ning,  323;  autobiography,  323;  hon 
orary  degree  conferred  on,  329,  332; 
references  to,  337,  346,  3C5,  407.  Sec 
LETTERS. 

RIPPON'S  Baptist  Annual  Register,  ci 
ted  and  referred  to,  44,  95,  436,  410, 
441. 

ROBBINS,  Asher,  tutor  in  College  and 
first  librarian,  329;  references  to,  292, 
300,  349,  378,  397,  411 ;  sketch  of,  329  ; 
portrait  in  Rhode  Island  Hall,  390. 
See  LETTERS. 

ROBBINS,  Mr.  E.,  of  New  York,  437. 

ROBERDEAN,  Daniel,  merchant,  201. 

ROBINSON,  Robert,  of  Cambridge,  218; 
author  of  "  History  of  Baptism,  " 
and  "Ecclesiastical  Researches,"  414. 
430, 431, 439, 445;  "  thorough-faced  So- 
cinian,  438,  439. 

ROBINSON,  George,  of  Bridgewater,  re 


vival  under  his  preaching,  409;  Trus 
tee  of  Baptist  Education  Fund,  316. 

ROBINSON,  Rev.  Mr.,  of  Mansfield,  266. 

ROCK  OF  AGES,  etc..  Toplady  author 
of,  204. 

RODXAN,  Isaac  P.,  Brigadier-General 
of  Rhode  Island,  fell  in  battle  of  An- 
tietam,  portrait  in  Rhode  Island  Hall, 
397. 

ROD,  discipline  of  the,  219. 

ROFFEY,  Samuel,  one  of  the  earliest 
benefactors  of  the  College,  91,  124; 
death  mentioned,  182. 

ROGERS,  Capt.  William,  of  Newport, 
52,  91. 

ROGERS,  Sarah,  91. 

ROGERS.  Dr.  William,  son  of  preced 
ing,  first  student  of  the  College,  86; 
graduates  in  1769,  88;  liked  in  Phila 
delphia,  160;  resemblance  to  Hezekiah 
Smith,  181;  labors  owned  of  God  "to 
admiration,"  197  ;  present  at  confer 
ence  with  delegates  to  Congress,  237; 
Manning  calls  on,  274;  signer  to  ad 
dress  of  the  Baptist  church  respecting 
Winchester,  335  ;  appointed  by  the 
Corporation  to  solicit  benefactions 
for  the  College  in  Europe,  299; 
preaches  funeral  sermon  of  Morgan 
Edwards,  44,  96;  reference  to,  446; 
biographical  sketch,  91-96;  portrait 
in  Rhode  Island  Hall,  93,  396.  See 
LETTERS. 

ROGERS,  Mrs.,  death  of,  95. 

ROGERS.  Eliza  J.,  portrait  of  her  fa 
ther,  93,  396. 

ROGERS,  Joseph,  of  Providence, 
"  mourns  the  loss  of  a  dear  and  ami 
able  wife,"  353. 

ROGERS,  Robert,  graduate  in  class  of 
1775,  Fellow  of  the  College  nearly 
half  a  century,  242;  Trustee  of  Bap 
tist  Education  Fund,  316. 

ROGERS,  Mrs.  Eliza  B.,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Gano,  presents  a  scholarship  to 
Brown  University,  164. 

ROGERS,  Capt.  John,  213. 

ROGERS,  Rev.  Dr.,  of  New  York,  284. 

ROLIN,  Ephraim,  286. 

ROSE'S  General  Biographical  Dictiona 
ry,  cited,  223. 


INDEX. 


515 


Ross's  Historical  Discourse,  cited,  151. 

ROUND,  Richard,  represents  Second 
Rehoboth  Church  at  first  meeting  of 
Warren  Association,  75. 

ROWLEY,  of  Providence,  192. 

ROXBURY  NECK,  skirmish  at,  139. 

RUSSELL,  John,  pastor  of  First  Baptist 
Church,  Boston,  135. 

RUSH,  Benjamin,  one  of  Dr.  Rogers's 
hearers,  92;  student  at  College  with 
Manning,  275;  adherent  of  Winches 
ter,  334;  religious  controversy  with 
Dr.  Ewing,  351. 

RUSSELL,  Joseph,  present  at  early 
meetings  of  Corporation,  67 ;  at  meet 
ing  to  determine  final  location  of  Col 
lege,  110;  merchant  in  Providence. 
187;  at  meeting  of  Corporation  in 
1780,  288;  chairman  of  committee  to 
superintend  Manning's  funeral,  451. 

RUSSELL,  William,  187;  on  advisory 
committee  for  building  meeting-house 
227;  appointed  manager  of  lottery, 
228;  present  at  meeting  of  Corpora 
tion  in  1780,  288;  on  committee  to 
draft  petition  to  Congress,  290. 

RUSSELL  on  singing  in  public  worship, 
179. 

RUSSIA  a  monarchial  despotism,  359. 

RUNYAN,  Rev.  Mr.,  336. 

RYLAND,  John,  of  Northampton,  187; 
honorary  degree  conferred  on,  89; 
annual  contribution  of  five  guineas 
lor  Manning's  support,  187,  197,  200, 
203,  214,  232  ;  sketch  of  Augustus  M. 
Toplady,  202,  203;  hints  for  Professor 
Manning's  use,  201,  216;  list  of  edu 
cated  Baptist  ministers  in  England, 
218;  references  to,  208,  207,  308,  317; 
character  of,  187.  See  LETTERS. 

RYLAND,  John,  D.D.,  son  of  preceding, 
father's  account  of,  189  ;  honorary 
degree  conferred  on,  199,  345;  refer 
ence  to,  310;  Robert  Hall  on  death  of, 
24. 

SABINE,  James,  171. 

ST.  CLAIR,  General,  271. 

ST.  JOHN'S  Church,  Providence,  closed 

during  the  war,  255. 
ST.  JOHN'S  Lodge,  Providence,  Moses 


Brown  Secretary  of,  175.    See  MA 
SONIC  FRATERNITY. 

ST.  MARTIN'S  IN  THE  FIELDS,  one  of 
finest  churches  in  London,  229. 

SANDERSON'S  ALGEBRA,  217. 

SAURIN'S  Works,  presented  to  College, 
341;  proposals  to  publish,  325,  326. 

SAVAGE,  James,  note  on  Chad  Brown, 
143 ;  Geological  Dictionary,  cited, 
144. 

SCHOOLS,  public,  in  Providence,  418, 
419. 

SCHOLARSHIPS,  inaugurated  by  Presi 
dent  Barnas  Sears,  315 ;  in  accordance 
with  Manning's  general  views  and 
policy,  316. 

SCOTCH  PLAINS  Baptist  church,  24,  33, 
35,  271. 

SCOTT,  Richard,  contemporary  with 
Roger  Williams  and  ancestor  of  Nich 
olas  Brown,  147,  157. 

SCOTT,  Joanna,  mother  of  Rhoda 
Jcnckes,  and  descendant  of  Richard 
Scott.  157. 

SCOTT,  of  Kingston,  Mass.,  disciplined 
by  Manning,  128, 129. 

SCOTT,  Capt,  330. 

SCRIPTURES,  only  rule  of  faith  and 
practice,  78. 

SEARS,  Barnas,  President  of  Brown 
University,  scholarships  inaugurated 
by,  315, 316;  acknowledgment  in  Pref 
ace,  9. 

SECTARIAN  bitterness,  now  passed 
away,  192. 

SEEKERS  and  Separatists,  147, 149, 179. 

SELF-EXALTATION,  cause  of  Winches 
ter's  apostasy,  327. 

SENTIMENTS  and  plan  of  Warren  Asso 
ciation,  78-80. 

SERGEANT,  Jonathan,  Dickinson,  class 
mate  of  Manning,  33. 

SESSIONS,  Darius,  present  at  meeting  of 
Corporation  to  determine  location  of 
the  College,  110;  Deputy  Governor, 
171 ;  Manning  visits,  263. 

SEVENTH-DAY  BAPTISTS,  Farmingtou, 
Ct,  Manning  preaches  for,  267. 

SHAKING  QUAKERS,  344. 

SHAKSPEAR,  Mr.,  293. 

SHAKSPEAR'S  HEAD,  Providence,  164. 


516 


INDEX. 


SHAND,  Capt,,  181,  220. 

SHARP,  Archbishop  of  York,  Works 
presented  to  Library,  358. 

SHARP,  Granville,  distinguished  phi 
lanthropist  of  London,  corresponds 
with  Manning,  358. 

SHAYISM,  Mass.,  effectually  crushed, 
411. 

SHELDON,  Christopher,  on  advisory 
committee  for  building  meeting 
house,  227. 

SHELDON,  Daniel,  154. 

SHELDON,  Joseph,  154. 

SHELDON,  Nicholas,  154. 

SIIEPARD,  Jonathan,  represents  Ha- 
verhill  church  at  first  meeting  of 
Warren  Association,  75. 

SUEPARJD,  Samuel,  baptized  by  Heze- 
kiah  Smith,  and  ordained,  123. 

SIIEPARD,  Deacon,  of  England,  makes 
donation  to  College,  363. 

SHERIDAN'S  Lectures  on  Elocution, 
text-book  in  College,  305. 

SHERMAN,  Rev.  Mr.,  of  Milford,  285. 

SHIELDS,  Thomas,  of  Philadelphia, 
276,  277,  278,  335. 

SHOALS,  Isle  of,  138. 

SHORTNESS  OF  LIFE,  357. 

SIMPSON'S  FLUXIONS,  217. 

SINCLAIR,  Mrs.,  second  wife  of  Mor-  j 
gan  Edwards,  45. 

SINGING  IN  PUBLIC  WORSHIP,  contro 
versy  on,  179, 

SIX-PRINCIPLE  BAPTISTS,  73,  154,  179. 

SKILLMAN,  Isaac,  educated  at  Hope- 
well  Academy,  42;  on  committee  of 
grievances,  330. 

SLAVE  TRADE,  Presbyterians,  Indepen 
dents  and  Anti-Pedobaptists  unite  in 
efforts  to  abolish,  407. 

SLAVERY,  Moses  Brown  opposed  to, 
174. 

SLATER,  Samuel,  founder  of  the  man 
ufacturing  interests  of  Ilhode  Island, 
portrait  in  Ilhode  Island  Hall,  396. 

SMITH,  Daniel,  fatlier-in-law  of  John 
Brown,  170. 

SMITH,  Dr.,  of  Chatham.  281. 

SMITH,  Dr.,  of  Hartford,  267,  286. 

SMITH,  Dr.,  of  Litchtield,  268. 

SMITH,   Eliphalet,    of  Deerfield,  con 


verted  to  Baptist  sentiments  while 
preaching, 122. 

SMITH,  Hezekiah,  of  llaverhill,  Mass., 
Manning's  most  intimate  friend,  83; 
educated  at  Hopewell  Academy,  42; 
classmate  of  Manning  in  College,  33; 
manuscript  copy  of  the  laws  of  Col 
lege  of  New  Jersey,  28;  present  at 
early  meetings  of  the  Corporation, 
67;  extract  from  diary,  68;  visits 
Manning  at  Warren,  74,  75;  one  of 
the  five  educated  Baptist  ministers 
in  New  England  in  1765,  71;  repre 
sents  Haverhill  church  at  first  meet 
ing  of  the  Warren  Association,  75; 
Moderator  of  Association  in  1769,  84 ; 
on  committee  of  grievances,  81,  330 ; 
honorary  degree  conferred  on,  89; 
Pclot  and  Hart  write  to  respecting 
Morgan  Edwards,  44, 45 ;  extract  from 
diary,  108;  elected  Fellow,  109;  ob 
tains  subscriptions  for  the  College  in 
South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  121, 126; 
baptizes  llev.  Eliphalet  Smith  and 
thirteen  others  in  Deerfield,  122;  bap 
tizes  Dr.  Shepard,  123;  marvellously 
blessed  in  his  labors,  183;  appointed 
agent  of  the  Baptists  to  Jay  their 
case  before  the  King  of  England, 
186;  birth  of  his  first  son,  209;  "  the 
great  man  of  Haverhill,"  219;  clerk 
of  the  Warren  Association  in  1774, 
238;  present  at  meeting  of  Corpora 
tion  in  1782,  289;  Trustee  of  Baptist 
Education  Fund,  316;  addressed  by 
Nicholas  Brown  with  a  view  to  suc 
ceeding  Manning  in  the  pastorate, 
383;  early  instructor  of  President 
Messer,  409;  has  thoughts  of  leaving 
Haverhill  and  taking  his  son  from 
College,  416;  still  wanted  in  Provi 
dence,  432;  son's  standing  in  College, 
416,  437;  Stillman,  Smith,  and  Bald 
win  preachers  at  Commencement,  90; 
papers  and  correspondence,  8;  letters 
to  his  wife  while  in  the  army,  139- 
142;  biographical  sketch,  135-139. 
See  LETTERS. 

SMITH,  Mrs.,  mother  of  Hezekiah  390. 

SMITH,  Jeremiah,  brother  of  Ilezekiah, 
390. 


INDEX. 


517 


SMITH,  Turpin,  actor  in  affair  of  the 
Gaspee,  172. 

SMITH,  Peter,  278. 

SMITH,  Rev.  Mr.,  Cranberry,  277. 

SNOW,  Joseph,  127,  419;  Commence 
ment  held  for  last  time  in  his  meeting 
house,  233. 

SNOW,  Samuel,  admitted  to  degree  of 
A.  B.  in  1782,  289. 

SNOW,  Stephen,  266. 

SNOW  four  feet  deep  March  21, 1785,  351. 

SOCIETY  FOR  PROPAGATION  OF  THE 
GOSPEL,  funds  prostituted,  184. 

SOCINIANISM  and  Presbyterians  of 
England,  189;  indications  of  in  Rob 
inson's  History  of  Baptism,  439. 

SOLITARY  HILL,  residence  of  William 
Wickenden,  148. 

SOMNER,  Major,  279. 

SOUL-LIBERTY,  239. 

SOUTH,  Rev.  Dr.,  cited,  462. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA,  subscriptions  ob 
tained  in  for  the  College,  121,  126; 
invasion  of  by  the  British,  2-73 ;  adopts 
the  Federal  Constitution,  411. 

SOWARD,  Col.,  270,  281. 

SPARK'S  AMERICAN  BIOGRAPHY,  ci 
ted,  66. 

SPEAR,  Nathan,  present  at  early  meet 
ings  of  Corporation,  67;  at  meeting 
to  determine  final  location  of  College 
HO;  member  of  committee  on  griev 
ances,  80. 

SPEAKING  on  the  chapel  stage,  305. 

SPILSBURY,  Mr.,  of  London,  189. 

SPECULATORS  and  monoplizers,  275. 

SPELLING,  Manning  a  proficient  in,  25. 

SPELLING-BOOK,  prepared  by  commit 
tee  of  Warren  Association,  291. 

SPENCER,  Gen.  Joseph,  brief  sketch, 
276. 

SPRAGUE,  William  B.,  acknowledg 
ment  in  Preface,  9;  Annals  of  the 
American  Pulpit,  cited,  104,  106,  123, 
131,134, 139,  274,  410. 

STAFFORD,  John,  of  England,  worthy 
of  College  honors,  190. 

STAMP  ACT,  91. 

STANDING  ORDER  and  the  Baptists,  72, 
80,  221,235.  See  CONGREGATIONAL- 

IST8. 

44 


STANFORD,  John,  pastor  for  a  time  of 
the  church  at  Providence,  405,  511, 
416,  440. 

STAPLES'S  Annals  of  Providence,cited, 
114,  128,  145,  191,  198,  255,  417,  433; 
Simplicity's  Defence,  cited,  146;  Doc 
umentary  History  of  Destruction  of 
Schooner  Gaspee,  cited,  170. 

STATE  lotteries  referred  to,  215. 

STEAD,  Mr.,  trustee  for  the  manage 
ment  of  funds,  125. 

STEEPLE  of  Baptist  meeting-house, 
Providence,  229,  230. 

STEEPLES  and  bells,  Dissenters  in  Eng 
land  not  allowed  to  use,  230. 

STELLE,  Benjamin,  magistrate  of  Pis- 
cataway,  36. 

STELLE,  Isaac,  son  of  Benjamin,  makes 
prayer  at  Manning's  ordination,  36; 
present  at  second  meeting  of  War 
ren  Association,  78;  references  to, 
271,  277,  278,  295;  brief  sketch,  36. 

STELLE,  Benjamin,  sou  of  Isaac,  has 
a  Latin  School  in  Providence,  84; 
daughter  married  to  Hon.  Nicholas 
Brown,  36. 

STENNETT,  Samuel,  of  London,  sub 
scriber  to  the  early  funds  of  the  Col 
lege,  91;  Manning  begins  correspon 
dence  with,  120;  procures  repeal  of 
the  Ashficld  law  against  the  Bap 
tists,  217,  220;  Discourses  on  Domes 
tic  Duties,  341,  355;  Parable  of  the 
Sower,  "truly  excellent,"  414;  ref 
erences  to,  319,  338,  344, 385;  character 
and  works,  120.  See  LETTERS. 

STEPHENS,  George,  of  London,  189. 

STEUBEN,  Baron,  Manning  introduced 
to  at  West  Point,  282. 

STILES,  Ezra,  solicited  to  assist  in  draft 
ing  Charter  for  Baptist  College,  47; 
Charter  so  drafted  as  to  throw  gov 
erning  power  into  hands  of  Congre- 
gationalists,  48-53;  connection  with 
the  Charter  stated  in  brief,  54;  cher 
ishes  friendly  feelings  towards  the 
College,  49;  reason  for  declining  a 
Fellowship,  49, 215 ;  would  have  noth 
ing  to  do  with  College,  191;  state 
ments  in  regard  to  Baptist  conference 
with  delegates  to  Congress,  239;  orig- 


518 


INDEX. 


iual  draft  of  Charter  with  remarks 
in  his  own  handwriting  published  in 
Appendix,  465-482. 

STILLMAN,  Samuel,  of  Boston,  benefi 
ciary  of  the  "  .Religious  Society  "  of 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  31;  name  omitted 
in  Dr.  Stiles's  draft  of  the  Charter,  51 ; 
present  at  early  meetings  of  Corpora 
tion,  67;  clerk  of  the  "Warren  Associ 
ation  in  1769,  84;  on  committee  of 
grievances,  80,  81;  honorary  degree 
conferred  on,  89;  present  at  meeting 
to  determine  final  location  of  the 
College,  110;  on  committee  to  wait  on 
Manning,  112;  preaches  Dr.  Shep- 
ard's  ordination  sermon,  123;  Treas 
urer  of  the  Baptist  churches,  186 ;  pres 
ent  at  meeting  of  Corporation  in  1782, 
289;  preaches  at  Commencement  of 
1783,  295;  chairman  of  committee 
of  Corporation  to  draft  address  and 
petition  to  King  of  France,  298,  301 ; 
Trustee  of  Baptist  Education  Fund, 
316;  chairman  of  committee  of  War 
ren  Association  on  grievances,  330; 
appointed  with  Manning  to  write  to 
Rev.  Hugh  Evans  of  Bristol  and  so 
licit  donations  for  the  College,  338; 
one  of  the  twelve  representatives 
from  Boston  to  the  Massachusetts 
Convention,  404;  popularity,  405; 
references  to,  71,  90,  323,  355,  408; 
preaches  funeral  sermon  of  Nicholas 
Brown,  extracts  from,  158, 159;  writes 
to  Hczekiah  Smith  announcing  death 
of  Manning,  453;  preaches  funeral 
sermon  of  ilezekiah  Smith,  137;  bio 
graphical  sketch,  132-135.  See  LET 
TERS. 

STITES,  John,  Mayor  of  Elizabethtown, 
father-in-law  of  Manning,  33,  34,  57, 
89,270,  280;  Dr.  Dayton  executor  of 
his  estate,  2D2. 

STITES,  Mrs.,  mother-in-law  of  Man 
ning,  336. 

STITES,  Margaret,  daughter  of  John, 
and  wife  of  Manning,  33, 246,  265,  460. 

STITES,  Sarah,  daughter  of  John,  and 
wife  of  John  Gano,  35,  354. 

STITES,  John,  merchant  in  New  York, 
brother-in-law  of  Manning,  355. 


STITES,  Richard,  Manning's  brother-in- 
law,  graduates  at  first  Commence 
ment  in  1769,  88. 

STITES,  Dickey,  son  of  Richard,  292. 

STITES,  Dr.,  Manning's  brother-in-law, 
277,280;  educates  Stephen  Gano  for 
the  medical  profession,  364. 

STITES,  William,  Manning's  uncle,  280. 

STITES,  Jimmy,  Manning's  nephew, 
son  of  Jeremiah,  336. 

STONE'S  Life  and  Recollections  of 
Rowland,  cited,  117,  226,  260;  Life  of 
Elhanan  Winchester,  cited,  335. 

STONE'S  Euclid,  text-book  in  College, 
305. 

STONY  POINT,  taken  by  Gen.  Wayne, 
278. 

STORM,  Capt.,  genteel  tavern,  269. 

STORY,  Mr.,  of  Boston,  214. 

STUART,  Gilbert,  the  painter,  portrait 
in  Rhode  Island  Hall,  397. 

STRATFORD,  Ct.,  284. 

STRAWBERRIES,  price  of,  141. 

STRONG,  Nathan,  of  Hartford,  brief 
sketch  of,  267;  references  to,  286,  438. 

SULLIVAN,  Gen.,  98,  259. 

SUMNER,  James,  230. 

SUTTON,  David,  educated  at  Hopewell 
Academy,  42. 

SUTTON,  John,  educated  at  Hopewell 
Academy,  42;  accompanies  Manning 
on  his  first  visit  to  Newport  in  1763, 
45;  settled  in  Kentucky,  437. 

SWEET,  Daniel,  154. 

SYMONDS,  Joshua,  of  Bedford,  Eng 
land,  190,  218. 

TAXATION,  dispute  relating  to,  232. 
TAXES  of  Rhode  Island  enormous,  265; 

burden  of  unfavorable  to  the  College, 

308. 
TALBOT,  James,  educated  at  Hopewell 

Academy,  42. 

TALLMADGE,  Col.,  of  New  York,  daugh 
ter  married  to  Stephen  Gauo,  366. 
TANNER,  John,  present  at  meeting  to 

determine  location  of  the    College, 

110. 

TAUNTON  ACADEMY,  448. 
TENNENT,  Gilbert,  means  of  Benjamin 

Miller's  conversion,  27. 


INDEX. 


TENNENT,  William  MacKay,brief  sketch 

of,  283;  Manning  visits,  284. 
TEST  LAWS  in  England,  429. 
TEW,  Paul,  2G6. 

TEXT-BOOKS  in  College  in  1783,  305; 
of  the  early  schools  in  Providence, 
417. 

THATCHER'S  Lives  of  Eminent  Physi 
cians,  242. 

THIVELL,  Capt,  337. 
THOCKMORTON,  John,  146. 
THOMAS,  David,  educated  at  Hopewell 
Academy,  42;  receives  honorary  de 
gree,  89. 

THOMAS,  Mr.,  of  London,  finds  first 
volume  of  Backus  used  as  waste  pa 
per,  376. 

THOMPSON,  Ebenezer,  appointed  on 
committee  to  draft  petition  to  Con 
gress,  290. 

THOMPSON,  Charles,  educated  at  Hope- 
well  Academy,  42;  aided  by  Philadel 
phia  Association,  56 ;  valedictorian  of 
the  first  graduating  class,  89;  minis 
try  at  Warren,  197;  biographical 
sketch,  103, 104. 
THOMPSON,  Mr.,  Manning  preaches  at 

his  house,  265. 
THORNTON,  Mr.,  244,  247. 
THORNTON'S  Pulpit  of  the  American 

Involution,  cited,  255,  387. 
THURSTON,  Gardner,  present  at  first 
meeting  of  Corporation,  64;  intimate 
friend  of  Dr.  Stiles,  66 ;  on  committee 
to  wait  upon  Manning,  112;  assists  in 
organization  of  Warren  church,  68; 
baptizes  William  Rogers,  92 ;  present 
at  meeting  to  determine  location  of 
College,  110;  church  at  Providence 
advises  with,  179;  revival  at  Newport 
under  his  preaching,  294. 
THURSTON,  Edward,  Jr.,  present  at 
first  meeting  of  Corporation,  64;  at 
meeting  to  determine  location  of  Col 
lege,  110. 

THURBER,  Edward,  on  advisory  com 
mittee,  etc.,  for  building  meeting 
house,  227,  228. 

THUUBER,  Benj.,  on  advisory  commit 
tee,  etc.,  for  building  meeting-house, 
227, 228. 


THURBER,  Benjamin,  of  Pomfret,  Man 
ning  preaches  at  his  house,  266. 
THURBEU,  James,  Manning  preaches  at 

his  house,  2G8. 
THURBER,    Samuel,    letter    to   Judge 

Staples  on  education,  cited,  417. 
THURLOW'S  State  Papers  read  by  Gov. 

Hopkins,  368. 

TILLINGHAST,     Daniel,    on     advisory 
committe,  etc.,  for  building  meeting 
house,  227,  228. 
TILLINGHAST,  Capt.  Joseph,  actor  in 

affair  of  Gaspee,  172. 
TILLINGHAST,  Nicholas,  present  at  first 

meeting  of  Corporation,  64. 
TILLINGHAST,  John,  first  Treasurer  of 

the  Corporation,  63. 
TILLINGHAST,  Pardon,  pastor  of  Bap 
tist  church,  Providence,  153,  226;  said 
to  have  been  soldier  under  Cromwell, 
155;  built  first  meeting-house  of  the 
church  at  his  own  expense,  155. 
TILLINGHAST,  Thomas,  associate  justice, 

99. 
TILLGINHAST,    Colonel    of    Artillery, 

412. 
TINGLEY,  Mrs.,  of  Elizabeth,  sister  of 

Manning,  271,  272,  280. 
TIRRILL,  William,  baptized,  122. 
TOLERANCE,  practised  by  early  settlers 

of  Rhode  Island.  46. 
TOLERATION  more  prevalent,  295,  362. 
TOPLADY,    Augustus    M.,    worthy     of 
College  honors,  189,  204;  first  divine 
of  the  established  church,  202;  author 
of  "  Rock  of  Ages  cleft  for  me,"  204; 
Treatise  on  Predestination,  221 ;  liter 
ary  character  of  Dr.   Gill,  371;  Ky- 
land's  sketch  of,  202,  203. 
TORIES  in  Boston  and    vicinity,  139; 
New  York  and  New  Jersey,  268,  270, 
272;  Morgan  Edwards  ranked  with, 
45;  "Tories  and  rogues  grow  rich," 
275. 
TOULMIN,   Joshua,   receives    honorary 

degree,  89. 

TOWN  HOUSE  of  Providence,  115. 
TRADE,  embarrassments  of,  in     New 

England,  356. 

TRANSIT  STREET,  named  in  commemo 
ration  of  transit  of  Venus,  165. 


520 


INDEX. 


TRAVELLING  facilities  in  days  of  Man 
ning,  237,  263-286. 

TREAT,  J.,  tutor  in  College  of  New 
Jersey,  27. 

TREVETT  against  Wceden,  care  of,  98, 
399. 

TRINITARIANISM.  See  ANTI-TRINITA-  j 
RIANISM. 

TROTTER,  Dr.,  of  London,  189. 

TRYON,  (Jov.  William,  invasion  of  Con 
necticut,  277,  283. 

TURNER,  Daniel,  honorary  degree  con 
ferred  on,  128. 

TURNER,  Mr.,  Manning  drinks  choco 
late  with,  279. 

TUTTLE,  Moses,  281. 

UNCONVERTED  men  not  to  preach,  427. 

UNION  in  Christ  should  produce  love 
towards  one  another,  328. 

UNION  COLLEGE,  Maxcy  elected  Presi 
dent,  402. 

UNITARIAN  views  advocated  by  Dr. 
Priestley,  415. 

UNITARIANISM,  or  Anti-Trinitarian- 
ism,  212,  213. 

UNIVERSAL  HISTORY,  the  great  collec 
tion  of,  read  by  (Jov.  Hopkins,  368. 

UNIVERSAL  RESTORATION,  doctrine 
propagated  by  Winchester,  333,  334. 

UNIVERSAL  SALVATION,  doctrine  prop 
agated  by  Murray,  294;  "licked  into 
various  forms,"  312;  many  proselytes 
among  Congregationalists,  made  by 
Dr.  Chauncy's  book,  385. 

UNIVERSALISTS  and  Armenians,  328. 

UNIVERSITY  HALL.    See  COLLEGE. 

UNIVERSITY  GRAMMAR  SCHOOL,  67. 
See  LATIN  SCHOOL. 

UNIVERSITY  OP  PENNSYLVANIA,  estab 
lished  and  controlled  by  Episcopa 
lians,  38;  Dr.  Rogers  Professor  in, 
93;  confers  upon  Manning  the  hon 
orary  degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity, 
350. 

UPDIKE'S  History  of  Narragansett 
Church,  cited,  93. 

UPHAM,  Edward,  and  J.  Condy,  the 
only  Baptist  ministers  in  New  Eng 
land  liberally  educated,  71;  graduate 
of  Harvard,  66;  present  at  first  meet 


ing  of  Corporation,  64;  at  meeting  to 
determine  location  of  College,  112; 
receives  honorary  degree,  89. 

USEFUL  knowledge,  surest  agency  to 
secure  rights,  prosperity,  and  liberty, 
418. 

USEFULNESS  the  wish  of  every  good 
man,  405. 

USHER,  Archbishop,  "  first  fruits  "  of 
Trinity  College,  91. 

USTICK,  Thomas,  aided  by  Philadelphia 
Association,  57;  graduates  in  class  of 
1771,  194;  succeeds  Dr.  Rogers  as  pas 
tor  of  Baptist  Church  in  Philadel 
phia,  194;  instrumental  in  obtaining 
Manning's  honorary  degree  from  Uni 
versity  of  Pennsylvania,  350;  referen 
ces  to,  9,  261,  354,  357,  367.  See  LET 
TERS. 

VACCINATION,  introduced  by  Dr.  Wa- 

terhotise,  300. 

VALEDICTORY  oration  of  Thompson, 
manuscript  preserved  in  College  Li 
brary,  104;  of  Binney,  published, 
233. 

VANDERLIGHT,  David,  German  physi 
cian,  married  Mary  Brown,  156. 

VAN  HORN,  William,  brief  sketch,  273; 
appointed  to  solicit  benefactions  for 
the  College,  299;  obtains  donations, 
3'J6. 

VANKIRK,  Dr.  Manning  preaches  for, 
272 

VARNUM,  James  Mitchell,  member  of 
first  graduating  class,  88;  writes  to 
Manning  at  Philadelphia,  279;  bio 
graphical  sketch,  96-102. 

VAVASOR,  Josiah,  daughter  married 
to  Stephen  Gano,  366. 

VENUS,  account  of  Transit  of,  164, 165. 

VERME,  Count  dal,  of  Milan,  present 
at  Commencement  in  1783,  298;  anec 
dote  of,  300. 

VIRGINIA,  revivals  in,  182,  205,  405. 

WADSWORTH,  General,  285. 

WAKKMAN,  ESQUIRE,  283. 

WALDO,  Rev.  Mr.,  Manning  preaches 

for,  269. 
WALLIN,  Benjamin,  of  London,  lion- 


INDEX. 


521 


orary  degree  conferred  on,  128;  Man 
ning  opens  correspondence  with,  210; 
account  of  himself,  211-213;  referen 
ces  to,  250,  293,  311,  345;  makes  be 
quest  to  the  College,  307;  character 
and  works,  210.  See  LETTERS. 

WALTON,  Rev.  Mr.,  153. 

WALTON'S  Biblia  Sacra  Polyglotta, 
presented  to  College  Library,  370. 

WANTON,  Edward,  154. 

WANTON,  John  G.,  present  at  first 
meeting  of  Corporation,  and  meet 
ing  to  determine  location  of  College, 
64, 110. 

WANTON,  Joseph,  present  at  first  meet 
ing  of  Corporation,  63;  Governor, 
64,  171;  suspended  for  disloyalty,  65. 

WANTON,  Joseph,  Jun.,  honorary  de 
gree  conferred  on,  89;  present  at 
meeting  to  determine  location  of  Col 
lege,  110. 

WAR  of  the  Revolution,  effects  of  in 
Warren,  103;  Smith's  letters  in  rela 
tion  to,  139-142;  vivid  idea  of,  244; 
sad  effects  of,  251;  unfavorable  to 
revivals,  247;  effects  of  in  Providence, 
293;  throughout  the  land,  311-317; 
counterbalanced  in  part  by  preva 
lence  of  religious  toleration,  328. 

WARD,  Henry,  present  at  meeting  to 
determine  location  of  College,  110; 
refere*ces  to,  288,  290,  292. 

WARD,  Samuel,  Governor  of  Rhode 
Island,  present  at  first  meeting  of 
Corporation,  63,  66;  at  meeting  to 
determine  location  of  the  College, 
110;  delegate  to  Congress,  237. 

WARD,  Richard,  son  of  preceding,  mar 
ried  daughter  of  Joseph  Brown,  164. 

WARD,  Samuel,  son  of  Governor,  grad 
uate  in  class  of  1771,  193;  attains  to 
rank  of  Lieut.  Col.  in  the  army,  194. 

WARD'S  Oratory,  text-book  in  College, 
305. 

WARNER,  John,  original  owner  of  part 
of  College  lot,  116,  146. 

WARNER,  John,  present  at  meeting  to 
determine  location  of  College,  110. 

WARNER,  Capt.,  285. 

WARREN,  selected  for  first  location  of 
College,  67.  68;  action  respecting  per- 

44* 


manent  location,  108;  ravages  of  Eng 
lish  troops,  103. 

WARREN  ASSOCIATION,  originated  by 
Manning  to  resist  acts  of  oppression 
on  part  of"  Standing  Order,"  and  to 
aid  College,  72;  formation  and  early 
history,  72-84;  first  meeting  at  War 
ren,  74;  sentiments  and  plan,  78-80; 
minutes,82;  efforts  to  aid  College,57,58, 
291,  31(3,321 ;  circular  letters  for,  1769, 
1770,  1783,  and  1791,  83,  185,  320.  458; 
agent  sent  to  Philadelphia  to  endeav 
or  to  obtain  through  Congress  equal 
rights,  233;  meeting  at  Providence  in 
1780,  290;  meeting  at  Charlton  in  1783, 
300;  meeting  in  1784,  determined  to 
resist  oppressive  acts  and  measures  of 
"Standing  Order,"  330;  Winchester 
excluded  from  fellowship  of,  335; 
formation  of  Education  Society,  316. 
See  LETTERS. 

WARREN  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  See  BAP 
TIST. 

WARWICK,  R.  I.,  and  Massachusetts, 
146-152. 

WARWICK,  N.Y.,  269,270. 

WASHINGTON,  George,  and  Dr.  Rog 
ers,  94;  and  Thomas  Mullett,  311;  tes 
timony  in  favor  of  the  Baptists,  136; 
on  speculators  and  monopolizers,275; 
Manning  introduced  to  at  West  Point, 
282;  visits  the  College  in  1790,  433;  re 
ply  to  Manning's  address,  435;  de 
gree  of  L.L.D,,  conferred  on,  336; 
references  to,  137,  271. 

WATERHOUSE, Benjamin,  description  of 
Newport,  113;  anecdote  and  "  trying 
experiences"  of  Manning,  842,  404; 
appointed  Fellow,  298,  299;  chosen 
Professor  in  College,330,332 ;  biograph 
ical  sketch,  299,  300.  See  LETTERS. 

WATKINS,  Mr.,  of  Philadelphia,  274. 

WATKINS  AND  SMITH,  London,  166. 

WATSON,  Elkanah,  apprentice  to  John 
Brown,  166;  Memoirs  of,  cited  97, 167. 

WATTS'S  Hymns  and  Psalms,  325. 

WATTS  and  Duncan's  Logic,  text-book 
in  College,  305. 

WAYLAND,  Francis,  pastor  of  First 
Baptist  Church,  Boston,  135;  state 
ment  respecting  Chad  Brown  cor- 


522 


INDEX. 


rected,  144;  introduced  the  "Presi 
dent's  Levee,"  at  Commencement  of 
administration  in  College,  90;  occu 
pied  for  a  time  the  old  College  Man 
sion,  296;  Discourse  on  Life  and 
character  of  Hon.  Nicholas  Brown, 
cited,  395  ;  full-length  portrait  in 
Rhode  Island  Hull,  and  marble  bust 
in  College  Library,  396. 

WAYNE,  General,  takes  Stony  Point, 
278. 

WEALTH,  reasonable  object  of,  418. 

WEATHER,  remarkably  cold,  in  1785, 
351. 

WEATHERSFIELD,  Ct.,  raises  vast  quan 
tities  of  onions,  285. 

WEBB,  Col.,  Manning  dines  with  at 
West  Point,  282. 

WEEDEN,  John,  of  Newport,  99. 

WELCH,  Mr.,  2S6. 

WELSH,  books  bequeathed  to  College, 
447. 

WELSH  versions  of  the  Bible,  194. 

WESTCOT,  Mr., of  Philadelphia,  274,277. 

WEST,  Benjamin,  the  painter ,8ub§cribei 
to  early  funds  of  College,  91. 

WEST,  Dr.  Benjamin,  taught  private 
school  in  Providence,  417;  account  of 
transit  of  Venus,  164,  165;  honorary 
degree  conferred  upon,  128. 

WEST  POINT,  description  of,  282,  283. 

WESLEY,  John,  221,  441. 

WHEATON,  Capt.,  68. 

WHEATON,  llcv.  Ephraim,  of  Swanzey, 
and  Thos.  Hollis,  40,  41. 

WHEATON,  Ephraim,  and  Nathauiel,on 
committee  for  building  Baptist  meet 
ing-house,  227,  228. 

WHEATON,  Dr.  Levi,  admitted  to  de 
gree  of  A.B.,  in  1782,  289. 

WHEATON,  Hon.  Henry,  portrait  in 
Rhode  Island  Hall,  396. 

WHEELOCK, Dr. .Presidentof  Dartmouth 
College,  184,  299. 

WHIPPLE,  Abraham,  actor  in  affair  of 
Gaspee,  171;  the  daring  Commodore, 
portrait  in  Rhode  Island  Hall,  396. 

WHIPPLE  HALL,  419. 

WHITAKER  and  Oakam,  184. 
WHITEFIELD,  preaching  of,  130. 
WHITMAN,  Thomas,  81. 


WHITMARSH,  Major,  97. 
WHITTIER,  Jacob,  represents  Haverhill 
church  at  first  meeting  of  Warren 
Association,  75. 

WICKENDEN,  William,  minister  of 
Baptist  church,  Providence,  148. 

WILLIAM  AND  MARY'S  COLLEGE, 
founded  and  controlled  by  Episco 
palian?,  38. 

WILKINSON  William,  graduate  in  class 

of  1783,  grammar  master  and  College 

Librarian,    336;     "  eminent  classical 

and  mathematical  teacher  in  town," 

413. 

WILKINSON,  Jemima,  and  her  adhe 
rents,  312. 

WILLIAMS,  Roger,  59, 178,  444,  446;  and 
Chad  Brown,  143-150;  not  the  first 
pastor  of  the  Baptist  church,  150. 

WILLIAMS,  William,  educated  at  Hope- 
well  Academy,  42;  member  of  first 
graduating  class,  88;  Trustee  of 
Baptist  Education  Fund,  316;  preach 
es  on  trial,  201;  biographical  sketch, 
104-6. 

WILLIAMS,  Gov.  David  R.,  pupil  of 
preceding,  105. 

WILLIAMS,  Robert,  original  owner  of 
part  of  College  lot,  116. 

WILLIAMS,  Joseph,  Jr.,  154. 

WILLIAMS,  David,  honorary  degree 
conferred  on,  128. 

WILLIAMS,  Henry,  merchant  of  New 
York,  121. 

WLLLIAMS,  Prof.,  account  of  "  Dark 
Day,"  cited,  260. 

WILLIAMS,  Sidney,  married  second 
daughter  of  President  Mcsser,  410. 

WILLIAMS,  Rev.  Mr.,  of  Durham,  285. 

WILLIAMS,  Mr.,  and  Booth,  428. 

WILTON,  Samuel,  worthy  of  College 
honors,  190. 

WILSON,  Rev.  Mr.,  of  Bordentown, 
328,  336,  412. 

WILSON'S  Sermons,  presented  to  Li 
brary,  212,  221,  223. 

WILSON'S  Navigation,  text-book  in 
College,  305. 

WINCHELL,  James,  pastor  of  first  Bap 
tist  church,  Boston,  135. 

WINCHESTER,  Elhanan,  92;  sketch  of, 


INDEX. 


523 


with  account  of  his  relations  with 
Baptist  church,  Philadelphia,  332- 
335;  instrumental  in  revivals  in  New 
England,  324;  apostasy,  327;  "pre 
eminent  in  virtue, "402;  "influential 
days  at  an  end  unless  he  goes  right 
about,'"1  424;  Booth's  portrait  of  "  ex 
actly  to  the  life,"  428;  loses  ground 
fast,  431,  439. 

WINSLOW,  Sam1!  and  wife,baptized,122. 

WrsrsoR,  Joshua,  154. 

WINSOR,  Samuel,  early  pastor  of  Bap 
tist  church,  153,  154. 

WINSOR,  Samuel,  son  of  preceding, 
present  at  lirst  meeting  of  Corpora 
tion,  64;  at  meeting  to  determine  final 
location  of  College,  110;  committee 
to  wait  on  Manning,  112;  Winsor, 
Manning,  and  Baptist  church,  178,179. 

WINSOR,  Col.  Abraham,  266. 

WINTHROP'S  New  England,  cited,  143, 
144. 

WINTHROP'S  account  of  transit  of  Ve 
nus,  cited,  165. 

WISTNER'S  Works,  presented  to  Libra 
ry,  352. 


WITIIERSPOON,  Dr.,  President  of  Col 
lege  of  New  Jersey,  28. 

WOOD,  Rev.  Mr.,  of  Ware,  337,  416. 

WOODBRIDGE,  Dr.,  "  first  fruits  "  of 
Harvard  University,  91. 

WOODBRIDGE,  Ct,  desolations  of,  280. 

WOODRUFF,  Joseph  of  Farmiugton,  267. 

WOODRUFF,  Mrs.,  of  Eli/abethtown, 
sister  of  Manning,  271,  272,  281. 

WOODMAN,  Isaac,  honorary  degree 
conferred  upon,  128;  writes  to  Man 
ning  declining,  206;  prince  in  spirit 
and  conduct,  203.  See  LETTERS. 

WORTH,  William,  educated  at  Hope- 
well  Academy,  42. 

WRENTHAM  ACADEMY,  taught  by  Wil 
liams,  105. 

YALE  COLLEGE, founded  and  controlled 
by  Cougregationalists,  38;  funds  in 
creased  by  lotteries,  197;  fortunate  in 
attracting  the  attention  of  a  Yale, 
319 ;  donation  to  from  King  of  France, 
298. 

YEARLY  MEETING  of  Baptists,  73. 

YELLOW  FEVER  at  Philadelphia,  94. 


4B«b. 


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